The following is a link to a pdf of the City of Hamilton's vote of thanks to specific named reservist veterans on Roto 3-08 which includes MCpl Byron Rodriguez from 23 Field Ambulance.
http://www2.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/6E0C90BF-38B1-496C-BC84-05557AB1EF95/0/Jun10Minutes.pdf
Below are two earlier articles on MCpl Rodriguez.
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2009/06/08/medic-recalls-hardships-of-war
NEWS BRANTFORD-BRANT
Medic recalls hardships of war
By Heather Ibbotson, Brantford Expositor
Monday, June 8, 2009 12:00:00 EDT AM
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Brantford resident and Master Cpl. Byron Rodriguez knows first-hand the grim realities of military service in Afghanistan.
He spent more than seven months on a tour of duty as a medic, among the first responders to field casualties. He has inserted chest tubes and performed an emergency tracheotomy.
He's also one of those responsible for preparing the bodies of fallen soldiers -- some of them friends -- for return home to Canadian soil.
"I've put friends in body bags," he said Sunday, his eyes misting at the memories. "It's the hardest thing I ever did in my life."
Rodriguez, 49, was one of a group of local soldiers who attended a welcome home celebration for Afghanistan veterans at the Brant Artillery Gunner's Club.
While on his tour of duty, Rodriguez also had part of his nose shot off by an Afghan child shooting a rock from a slingshot.
He said he refused immediate care himself, telling his commander, "I still have my legs and my arms and my eyes, so the mission must continue."
Five hours later, it took 26 stitches to reattach the hanging chunk of flesh to his nose.
Still, Rodriguez, a reservist with the 23rd Field Ambulance in Hamilton, who also has long ties with the local 56th Field Artillery Regiment, said he wants to go back.
"We're doing good work in Afghanistan," he said. "We're making a diff erence."
Rodriguez, who was born in Guatemala and immigrated to Canada in 1973 with his parents and siblings, said he deplores some of the things he saw and came to understand about life in Afghanistan.
Women have no rights there, having to walk behind their male relatives and avoiding all eye contact, he said. It is not unusual for a woman coming home late to be sent to jail by her husband as punishment, he said.
The Taliban also uses children in shocking ways, only one of which is to act as slingshot-firing snipers, as Rodriguez painfully discovered.
He was told that if children refuse such orders they are beaten or even have finger joints cut off .
Yet, Rodriguez said he still manages to see hope in the building of hospitals, schools and houses and has been heartened by the sight of friendly youngsters waving innocent hands and carrying books to school.
Master bombardier Matt Bradley, 28, of Brantford, was another of the local soldiers home from a tour of duty as a reservist in western Afghanistan.
He returned home May 10 from a 7 1/2-month tour. Bradley's deployment was spent largely in a secure operating base as part of a gun detachment. His unit's job was to provide fire support for anyone who needed help on the combat team, he said.
"I always wanted to do a tour to give something back and do my part," Bradley said.
As a reservist, he felt that going to Afghanistan gave him an opportunity to do his job "for real."
On Sunday, words of recognition and thanks to all returning veterans were expressed by local politicians and representatives from local legions.
Also speaking at the event was Second World War veteran Derek Pike, of Brantford, who told the gathering that "65 years ago yesterday" he was among the thousands of Canadian troops who stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
It was late, nearing 11 p. m., but due to what Pike called "British double daylight savings time," it was not yet fully dark, he said.
Pike recalled sleeping on the ground or in the back of a truck for three months after that day, adding that he "never saw a bed"
until he reached Antwerp in September 1944.
Pike also teased the c u r re n t veterans about having Tim Hortons coffee and pizza while serving overseas.
"We had none of that," he said, recalling the large tins of bully beef (corned beef) which, when empty, were rigged into containers for water to allow soldiers to enjoy the most rudimentary of showers.
"I'm glad you're back and glad I'm alive to talk to you," Pike told the younger generation of veterans.
http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2012/03/15/two-classes-of-war-vets
Two classes of war vets
By Vicki Gough, Chatham Daily News
Thursday, March 15, 2012 7:28:07 EDT PM
Byron Rodriguez of Tilbury displays a medal and commander's commendation he received in Kandahar for delaying medical attention for himself during a mission. Rodriquez was on an improvised explosive device (IED) call when he took a large rock in the face, leaving him with a fractured nose and nerve damage. Photo taken Thursday March 15, 2012 in Tilbury Ontario. VICKI GOUGH/ THE CHATHAM DAILY NEWS/ QMI AGENCY
Byron Rodriguez of Tilbury displays a medal and commander's commendation he received in Kandahar for delaying medical attention for himself during a mission. Rodriquez was on an improvised explosive device (IED) call when he took a large rock in the face, leaving him with a fractured nose and nerve damage. Photo taken Thursday March 15, 2012 in Tilbury Ontario. VICKI GOUGH/ THE CHATHAM DAILY NEWS/ QMI AGENCY
A medical laboratory technician by trade, Byron Rodriguez chose to serve his country on combat missions in Afghanistan.
The Tilbury man is a member of Canada's militia. The father of three is Section Commander of 23 Field Ambulance Detachment London.
"It was my choice to go to war because Canada is a beautiful place to me and my family," Rodriguez told The Chatham Daily News.
At age 48, Rodriguez was commander of a quick response force. It was his team's job to help soldiers in jeopardy on the battlefield.
During one assignment in 2008, Rodriguez was injured when a large rock was thrown towards his vehicle and hit him in the face. It ripped into his nose and broke it.
"I had half my nose amputated and received 22 stitches to close the cut around one nostril," Rodriguez said.
He used his own hands to reset his nose. Then he insisted on carrying on with the mission.
Rodriguez received a Sacrifice Medal, the highest commendation given to a reservist, for his decision to delay his medical attention for five hours to allow other soldiers to be brought to safety.
When he did get medical attention, the attending medic used a computer to learn how to stitch his nose back together, Rodriguez said.
But four years later, he's facing a battle back home.
Veteran's Affairs and the Department of National Defence have yet to decide if Rodriguez should receive financial compensation.
"A reservist, when you come home that's it, not like in the regular force. If you want any medical attention you have to go look for it, they don't offer it to you," Rodriguez explained.
Meanwhile, he has constant pain from nerve damage in his right cheek. And after two root canals, a tooth finally had to be pulled.
"When I smile, one side goes up and the other side stays down. My face hurts 24-7," Rodriguez said.
He has also been told he's not eligible to work in a medical lab because he was exposed to health hazards among the Taliban.
"Nobody will hire me here," Rodriguez said, adding, "Veteran's Affairs says, no, you're fine, and the Department of National Defence says you can work."
Waiting for decisions from Veteran's Affairs and the Department of National Defence (DND) is not uncommon says a spokesperson for the Royal Canadian Legion.
"All Canadian Forces members who have been injured in the service of their country should be treated equitably," said Royal Canadian Legion Dominion president Patricia Varga.
Varga maintains it doesn't make sense that two government departments, when they do process injured veterans claims, don't offer similar compensation.
Veteran's Affairs Canada assures a $40,000 pre-tax yearly benefit while DND's long-term disability insurance provides 75% of the pre-release salary to veterans who are released for medical reasons.
"It's terrible ... it's a bureaucratic financial nightmare" RCL Dominion command service director Andrea Siew told The Daily News.
Some receive $40,000 a year, while others are getting $20,000, she said.
"These are kids permanently disabled and for the most part they are young and it's terrible," she said.
The RCL Dominion command decided to raise the issue now Siew said, because the federal government hasn't followed through on its commitment to end the inequity.
"There are psychological injuries, physical injuries and they're trying to deal day to day just to survive now," Siew said.
"I went there to do a job and that's what I was doing," Rodriguez said.
"They recognize injuries while we were in Afghanistan ... cover any medications, any treatments you need, but they won't give you a (disability) pension," he said.
Rodriguez currently receives $1,600 a month employment insurance. But that revenue source will end in June.
"No disrespect to the civilian staff, but they don't know what goes on there, things we seen, the stuff we did," he said.
"Our claims sit on their desks waiting to be decided," he added.
vicki.gough@sunmedia.ca
