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Elliot
Velez-Rodriguez
Velez-Rodriguez
SP4 · · 11B20 · Infantryman
KIA
In-Country Service
1968-05-24 –
Home of Record
Vega Baja, PR
Character of Service
Honorable
Archive Status
Active
Virtual Wall and Wall of Faces (no Honor States page found for this man), cross-referenced against CPT Henry Colavita's memoir, "Company Grade: Memoir of an Angry Skipper" (ch. 9, "Chicken Valley" — see sources/colavita/09-chicken-valley/). If you served with or knew Elliot Velez-Rodriguez, please use the contribute form to share what you remember.
1968-05-24
Arrived
Arrived in Vietnam — May 24, 1968
SP4 Elliot Velez-Rodriguez began his Vietnam tour on May 24, 1968 (per Virtual Wall), administratively assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry. He came under D Company's care only on the single night of his death, eight months later — see the January 21, 1969 entry below and admin notes.
1969-01-21
Incident
Killed in action — January 21, 1969
A newly arrived replacement awaiting transfer to A Company, SP4 Velez-Rodriguez was inserted into D Company's Wild Cat platoon perimeter at LZ Rita for the night by Sgt. Terry Shoopman (a Wild Cat squad leader, short-handed) rather than sit out unassigned. He was killed that night, Binh Long Province, when an explosion — cause disputed even in CPT Colavita's own account, see admin notes — set off stacked mortar rounds in a nearby ammo pit. He was 21 years old. Full account: see sources/colavita/09-chicken-valley/09-chicken-valley.digest.json.
1969-01-21
Casualty record
FSB Rita (XT505795), Binh Long Province, III Corps, RVN — 2nd Brigade Fishhook AO
Did You Know Elliot, or Serve Alongside Elliot?
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