Rodriguez, Carlos A.

Bobby Ciarletta

1958-01

1977-04

1983-05

Was a plotter and topographer; later a security marine in the Mediterranean.

Carlos A. Rodriguez was born in January 1958, and his family came to the U.S. from Cuba when he was ten years old. His family lived in Leonia, NJ and he graduated from Leonia High School before attending Bergen Community College.

Rodriguez then served in the U.S. Marine Corps from April 1977 to May 1983. He was seeking direction in life and also said in his 2017 Mahwah Memories interview, “it would be a great personal challenge”. As well, he just wanted to give back to the U.S. as an immigrant by serving.

While Rodriguez felt some fear and nervousness heading into boot camp, he knew he would “be better off at the end” and refused to give up. From boot camp, he recalled the screaming drill instructors, as well as immediately losing all possessions, phone calls that were only scripted, getting a haircut, and wearing uniforms during the “Receiving” process. Still, he used the word “invincible” to relay his feeling of completing training.

Afterwards Rodriguez went to Camp Lejeune, NC for his Duty Station, and attended Infantry Training School (ITS). Two months later, he went to school to learn about the military. It was all more exciting when he got to visit countries in Europe while deployed in the Mediterranean on a naval ship. His initial role as a Marine included being a plotter and topographer. Later on he attended Sea Duty School in San Diego, CA and was a Security Marine on the ships - protecting the ship itself and its captain. His most thrilling memory occurred during the American hostage crisis in Tehran, Iran, since Marines everywhere were on alert. He just missed being part of Operation Eagle Claw to save the hostages, but this mission was aborted. He also had the experience of being injured when his ship collided with a tanker, and spent 33 days in Naples recovering and touring the countryside.

When Rodriguez finally returned six years later, he looked for a job and worked at a local hospital as a security officer. He then continued school, became a medic, and lastly worked as a full time police officer 25 years.

Rodriguez also married Claire Y. Cyriax of Paramus, a nurse, on April 27, 1985. Their ceremony happened at Christ Lutheran Church in Paramus, NJ, where Cyriax was from. After the marriage they planned to live in Leonia but later moved to Mahwah. Their son Christopher G. Rodriguez-Cyriax also went on to serve as a Marine.