Fort Campbell, KY. – On Tuesday an infantryman from A Company, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd BCT, known as the “Rakkasans” was killed during a training exercise.
While his company was conducting training on one of the 127 acre post’s shooting range he was fatally struck by a bullet. He was pronounced dead at 10:20 AM by the Blanchfield Army Community Hospital.
The incident remains under investigation. Lt. Col. Brian DeSantis, spokesman for the 101st, said Tuesday there was no indication the shooting was anything but accidental.
On Monday, Rodriguez’s company spent the day on the hand grenade range to “familiarize with the safe employment of the M67 hand grenade.”
A U.S. Army press release has identified the soldier as PFC Kevin J. Rodrigues, 22, of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico. Rodriguez enlisted in the Army in October 2013 and was assigned to Fort Campbell after completing Infantry OSUT at Fort Benning.
While with the 101st Airborne Division, he deployed to Afghanistan for nine months and returned in June.
According to the press release, his awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and Expert Marksmanship Badge, the release states.
Rodriguez is survived by his father, Daniel Rodriguez, and his mother, Joan Pino-Caban, both of Paterson, New Jersey.
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