--- title: "The Contractor Whose Mysterious Death Is Being Investigated Was A Decorated Green Beret" description: "Richard Anthony Rodriguez deployed to Afghanistan four times as a soldier. He died from non-combat wounds that he suffered in Iraq." date: "2019-01-10" modified: "2019-01-10" authors: - name: "Jeff Schogol" job_title: "Senior Pentagon Reporter" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jeff-schogol.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/contractor-military-record/" categories: - "Army" - "Military Branches" - "News" tags: - "special operations command" --- # The Contractor Whose Mysterious Death Is Being Investigated Was A Decorated Green Beret ![]() The American contractor who [reportedly died from injuries he suffered in a fight with service members]() while working in northern Iraq was a decorated combat veteran who served in U.S. Army Special Forces, according to his official military record. "Richard Anthony Rodriguez served in the U.S. Army from August 1991 to August 2012," said Army spokesman William Sharp. "He attained the rank of master sergeant and held the military occupational specialties of infantryman, weapons sergeant, and senior sergeant. During his service he deployed to Afghanistan four times between 2006 and 2011." During his time in the Army, Rodriguez completed the Special Forces Qualification Course, Ranger School, diver training, Airborne School, and Pathfinder School. He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for valor and four other Bronze stars as well as numerous other military decorations. Rodriguez died at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, on Jan. 4, after being medically evacuated from Iraq. Two Marines and a Navy corpsman from a Marine special operations unit are reportedly under investigation in connection with his death. ![]() Richard Anthony Rodriguez died of injuries he sustained while working in Iraq as a contractor.Facebook U.S. military officials are not releasing any information about how Rodriguez died or where the investigation stands. At the time of his death, Rodriguez was working for Lockheed Martin. A company spokeswoman declined to discuss his work in Iraq. "Out of respect for the family's desire for privacy, we are not disclosing the employee's name or information about his role or mission," Cheryl Amerine told Task & Purpose on Thursday. "Additionally, the family is declining requests for interviews." ### SEE MORE: Report: Navy SEAL Told Witness He Used Duct Tape, 'Choked Out' Green Beret Strangled To Death In Mali ### WATCH NEXT: House Two NCIS Special Agent Michael Maloney ## Author Jeff Schogol is the former senior Pentagon reporter for Task & Purpose. He reported on both the Department of Defense as a whole and individual services, covering a variety of topics that include personnel, policy, military justice, deployments, and technology. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Twitter]() ## More - [10 Marines punished following investigation into death of former Green Beret in Iraq]() - [Two Marines, One Navy Corpsman Reportedly Being Investigated For Contractor’s Death In Iraq]() - [Two Marine Raiders and a Navy corpsman charged in death of American contractor]() - [NCIS agent taken off Green Beret murder investigation for reportedly being romantically involved with a witness]() - [Charges reinstated against Navy Corpsman in case of Green Beret contractor killed in Iraq]() - [Marine Corps withdraws 1 count of involuntary manslaughter charge against ‘MARSOC 3’ Raider]() - [Green Beret killed during ‘routine’ free fall training exercise]() - [The Marine Corps may have blown its case against special operators accused of killing a former Green Beret]()