Former Douglas Mayor Albert F. Rodriguez, passed away Monday at his home in Scottsdale. He was 85.
Rodriguez served as Mayor of Douglas from 1978-80 and was responsible for acquiring low income housing as well many improvements for the city of Douglas that resulted in efficiencies for the city and the citizens of Douglas.
Rodriguez served our country for 35 years and six months and was awarded the Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam from 1964 to 1969 as a member of the 7th of the First Air Calvary where he was a colonel. Col. Rodriguez was wounded twice and brought down four times in his helicopter by enemy fire.
Col. Rodriguez also served as the Army Defense Attaché to El Salvador. According to family members during his duty in El Salvador he rescued 200 Salvadoran and 25 Americans held hostage by leftist groups. During his years of service he was awarded 68 medals and eight foreign medals from El Salvador, Argentina and Japan.
Information from the Douglas Dispatch
