Soldier's friends 'stop by' Minden

At 4:25 p.m. Tuesday, family and friends of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua Rodgers stood on the tarmac at Hutt Aviation in the late afternoon chill to greet two CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

An unmistakable rumble announced their approach moments before the helicopters appeared in the Carson Valley sky.

The Chinooks were enroute from Fort Bragg, N.C., to Fort Lewis, Wash., and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jimmy Valencia received permission to "stop by" Minden to refuel at Minden-Tahoe Airport and spend time with Rodgers' family.

The crew included Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mark Jones who also served with Rodgers in the 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Brigade Combat Team in Fort Bragg.

Rodgers, a chief warrant officer 2, and his crew were killed May 30, 2007, when his Chinook helicopter was shot down over Afghanistan.

Both Jones and Valencia attended Rodgers' funeral in Minden, and keep in close contact with his wife, Casey Rodgers and their three daughters who still live in Fort Bragg.

"We feel honored to come here," Jones said.

Rodgers' family, including his mother and stepfather, Debbie and Ben Walker, uncle and aunt Mike and Susan McElfish and cousins and friends were ecstatic to see the soldiers.

"It means a lot to us to see them," Valencia said. "We're so busy with everyday life, it's great to get a chance to visit."

On hand to greet the crew of 10 was 8-month-old Joshua Michael Rodriguez, wrapped in a blanket in the arms of his mother, Rachel Rodriguez.

Named for Rodgers, little Joshua's father is in the Air Force, having already served in the Army, his mother said.

"I grew up with the family," Rodriguez said. "When I found out I was pregnant, we decided to name the baby after Josh and Uncle Mike (McElfish)."

Jones planned to take the crew to Rodgers' grave at Eastside Memorial Park in Minden.

They concluded their overnight stay with a flyover at the cemetery about 11 a.m. Wednesday before heading to Fort Lewis.

"We want to give Josh one last flyover," Jones said.

Walker said Thursday she missed the flyover by minutes.

"One lady said it was an awesome experience as the ground rumbled. They were in tears. I am sorry we missed it, but it was for Josh, not for me," Walker said.

Greeting her son's fellow soldiers is an emotional experience, Walker said.

"It means a lot to me that they don't forget him and that they do keep him alive. We want them to know that they are not forgotten either," she said. "We always tell them that if any of them want to come to Nevada, our door is open."