Dominic N. Rodriguez dies 'of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident'

Army Spc. Dominic Nathaniel Rodriguez of Klamath Falls died Friday in Baghdad in what the U.S. Department of Defense called a non-combat-related incident.

Rodriguez, 23, was the 103rd service member with ties to Oregon or southwest Washington to die in Iraq or Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001.

The incident was under investigation. The Defense Department declined to release further information and said family members requested that the media not contact them.

Rodriguez joined the military in February 2005 as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. In September 2006, he was assigned to 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. He deployed to Iraq in October 2006, the Defense Department said.

The Oregon National Guard's public affairs office said Rodriguez was born in Klamath Falls and graduated from Klamath Union High School. He was captain of the school's football team and played football at College of the Siskiyous in Weed, Calif. He also enjoyed wrestling, swimming and fishing.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanette McMackin; stepchildren, Allusion and Austin; and parents, Filomeno Sr. and Patricia Rodriguez, all of Klamath Falls.

From the Oregonian