Col Rodgers Receives Bronze Star,

RTC Endorsement For 106th District Seat

By John Voket

From the office of the President to the roles of his own local town committee, Legislative Council Chairman William Rodgers was the recipient of two distinct honors this week. On Monday, The Newtown Bee learned that Mr Rodgers had received the Bronze Star, one of the highest wartime military honors for his recent service to the Marine Corps in Iraq.

Then on Tuesday, the local Republican Town Committee announced its unanimous support of Mr Rodgers for the 106th District statehouse seat. The council chairman said recently he was seeking his party’s endorsement to run for the seat being vacated by longtime representative Julia Wasserman.

Ms Wasserman has decided to not seek another term in the legislature this November.

Mr Rodgers, who holds the rank of colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve, previously told The Bee that he volunteered to serve in the current conflict to take the place of any younger officer in his stateside unit who had young children.

According to a letter, dispatched from President George W. Bush through Lt General S.T. Helland at Marine Corps Central Command, Col Rodgers is being honored for his efforts assisting Operation Iraq Freedom. In his capacity, he coordinated with the US Agency for International Development, in part, as a liaison between the US forces and local representatives, primarily in Iraq.

Among his many duties in his six months of combat service, the memo cites Col Rodgers’ instrumental work in implementing agricultural programs and his assistance transferring medical supplies, women’s and children’s literature, and facilitating the introduction of a US stabilization program in Fallujah and Al Anbar.

Contacted about the honor, Col Rodgers acknowledged the honor.

“It’s a nice item of closure for me on that chapter of my Marine Corps service,” he said. “It’s very gratifying.”

He was quick to note, however, that he believes every military member is making an important contribution to peace, no matter where they are serving.

“If anything, my time in active service renewed my awareness that it is about everybody who is making a contribution,” he said, adding that the most secure and routine responsibilities still can put service men and women in the line of fire.

“In the unit prior to my arrival, one soldier was killed by a mortar round while sitting down for a routine staff meeting,” he said.

During his time of service, Mr Rodgers said by virtue of his duties, he was often put in the most hazardous situations because of long periods of ground and air travel to get to outlying destinations.

“My job involved a lot of travel, where you are exposed and most vulnerable to hostile actions,” he said. Mr Rodgers said in the course of about two dozen helicopter trips, he came under fire, and was constantly under the threat of fire.

“We were fired on twice, once directly,” he said.

According to military sources, the Bronze Star Medal was established by Executive Order 9419, in February 1944. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the United States Marine Corps after December 6, 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Awards may be made for acts of heroism, performed under circumstances described above, which are of lesser degree than required for the award of the Silver Star.

To justify this decoration, accomplishment or performance of duty above that normally expected, and sufficient to distinguish the individual among those performing comparable duties, is required. Minor acts of heroism in combat or single acts of merit or meritorious service in connection with military or naval operations may justify this award.

While fellow Republican and RTC Chairman William Brimmer, Jr, was proud of Mr Rodgers’ national honor, he said the highest recognition from the party is coming with a unanimous endorsement for the 106th District seat.

“Since he began his service to the community, and since I served beside him on the council going back to 1996, Will immediately established himself,” Mr Brimmer said. “He did his homework and immediately took an active role in council business.”

Mr Brimmer said Mr Rodgers was “very well qualified to serve as council chairman.”

“And we are enthusiastic about the prospect of him filling the role Julia Wasserman has held for so long — as difficult as it will be.”

Mr Rodgers is expected to face fellow Democratic councilman Christopher Lyddy. The Newtown Democratic Town Committee’s Candidate’s Committee said in a statement this week it has recommended Mr Lyddy to the full town committee for endorsement.