Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
I was returning home from camping Monday when I received a call from NC. I didn't recognize the number but had a feeling I didn't want to take the call. I sent it to voicemail. About 3 hours later the same number appeared on my missed calls list. I checked voicemail and it was my buddies wife. My heart sank and knees weakened when I heard the tone and the tears behind her voice requesting a call back. I made a few calls trying as hard as I could to push off my duty to return her call. I called her back while trying to remain as stoic as possible. Rodney had been in an accident - a tank had slammed into his humvee killing him. It was reported that he was taken to the hospital where he later died - not sure if it he lived to feel anything or not.
We met at the first football practice my Jr year and his Sr year in highschool. I was comforted that there were other small players on the football team. With the likes of guys like Greg Ellis it was tough road ahead for the few of us that were under 6' and under 200lbs. We got along great, shared the same interests, hobbies and outlook on life. Rodney was an incredibly upbeat laid back guy. Nothing seemed to bother him and he had an unrivaled ability to work through any situation. He started on special teams and would hit with such an intensity and drive that you would think his life depended on it. I believe he was only 5'7" but he played like he was headed to the NFL. Throughout practice and the entire season we carried one another and lifted each other up. I got frustrated towards the end of the season and was thinking about quitting and he physically wouldn't allow it. Although I was larger than him his heart and soul were bigger than mine and he kept my head in the game. We stood on the field together and congratulated each other when we were victorious and consoled each other when we were destroyed. We finished 10th in state that year. I was truly sad to see it end knowing that we would never step on a football field again as teammates. We managed to date a lot girls and have a constant pool of new ones. I remember on several occasions setting up dates with several girls on the same night and trying to juggle it all. Few times in life do you find an individual that you are in sync with. We just knew the other one would be there to catch our back no matter what the situation. Rodney also introduced me to a guy named Christ. My parents took a very hands off approach to church when I was growing up. Rodney and I talked about often. It wasn't until 1997 that I made the conscious decision to accept Christ into my heart, but a huge part of it was our conversations and his spiritual guidance.
Rodney was the best man at my wedding and generally the better man when we were together. We used my parents Explorer to go to prom with our girlfriends and later buried the same explorer in 4ft of mud and water. When my dad showed up to get us and then the cops showed up to ticket us, Rodney stood right by my side. No thoughts of ever backing down to save himself some trouble. He got in trouble just as bad as I did when I buried that explorer. He called me to let me know that his dad was taking his car away for our actions.
We had planned to go to college together at East Carolina U. He would have been a year ahead of me. Plans changed and my dad started a company and moved us to Colorado. Leaving NC was one of the hardest things I've done to date. I was so incredibly angry at our move I almost put my dad through a wall. Rodney grabbed me threw in my truck and he drove to get me away and calm down my rage. We talked for hours and hours about it. I got calmed down and we left the next day for CO.
Initially we stayed in contact on a regular basis. As being 2000miles away tends to do, our phone calls began to spread and get further apart. The years began to grow and get further apart. The last time I saw Rodney was in June of 1999. I requested that he be the best man at my wedding. He obliged and flew out to TX. We spent about 3-4 days together and managed to create a ton of memories and stories for years to come. I talked to Rodney after my first daughter was born (2001) and I had missed his wedding. We moved and he couldn't get in touch with me in time. I felt extremely bad about the situation but vowed not to let the years go by like that.
He told me he entered the reserves to help pay off his debt. Rodney wanted to be a teacher and a football coach. He entered 5 months of training for the army and came home to start his life with his wife Amanda. September 11th happened and he was called to immediate duty. I kept my contact through her, got updates, etc. He was over here in December for Christmas. I found this out after the fact. I had just started to keep email contact with Rodney when I received the call from his wife.
Rodney, I'm sorry I couldn't be there this time to get you out of trouble or carry you when you needed it most. With a heavy heart though, I will be there to carry you for the final time. I love you man...
http://www.wral.com/news/3295374/detail.html
Heading to his funeral this weekend
We met at the first football practice my Jr year and his Sr year in highschool. I was comforted that there were other small players on the football team. With the likes of guys like Greg Ellis it was tough road ahead for the few of us that were under 6' and under 200lbs. We got along great, shared the same interests, hobbies and outlook on life. Rodney was an incredibly upbeat laid back guy. Nothing seemed to bother him and he had an unrivaled ability to work through any situation. He started on special teams and would hit with such an intensity and drive that you would think his life depended on it. I believe he was only 5'7" but he played like he was headed to the NFL. Throughout practice and the entire season we carried one another and lifted each other up. I got frustrated towards the end of the season and was thinking about quitting and he physically wouldn't allow it. Although I was larger than him his heart and soul were bigger than mine and he kept my head in the game. We stood on the field together and congratulated each other when we were victorious and consoled each other when we were destroyed. We finished 10th in state that year. I was truly sad to see it end knowing that we would never step on a football field again as teammates. We managed to date a lot girls and have a constant pool of new ones. I remember on several occasions setting up dates with several girls on the same night and trying to juggle it all. Few times in life do you find an individual that you are in sync with. We just knew the other one would be there to catch our back no matter what the situation. Rodney also introduced me to a guy named Christ. My parents took a very hands off approach to church when I was growing up. Rodney and I talked about often. It wasn't until 1997 that I made the conscious decision to accept Christ into my heart, but a huge part of it was our conversations and his spiritual guidance.
Rodney was the best man at my wedding and generally the better man when we were together. We used my parents Explorer to go to prom with our girlfriends and later buried the same explorer in 4ft of mud and water. When my dad showed up to get us and then the cops showed up to ticket us, Rodney stood right by my side. No thoughts of ever backing down to save himself some trouble. He got in trouble just as bad as I did when I buried that explorer. He called me to let me know that his dad was taking his car away for our actions.
We had planned to go to college together at East Carolina U. He would have been a year ahead of me. Plans changed and my dad started a company and moved us to Colorado. Leaving NC was one of the hardest things I've done to date. I was so incredibly angry at our move I almost put my dad through a wall. Rodney grabbed me threw in my truck and he drove to get me away and calm down my rage. We talked for hours and hours about it. I got calmed down and we left the next day for CO.
Initially we stayed in contact on a regular basis. As being 2000miles away tends to do, our phone calls began to spread and get further apart. The years began to grow and get further apart. The last time I saw Rodney was in June of 1999. I requested that he be the best man at my wedding. He obliged and flew out to TX. We spent about 3-4 days together and managed to create a ton of memories and stories for years to come. I talked to Rodney after my first daughter was born (2001) and I had missed his wedding. We moved and he couldn't get in touch with me in time. I felt extremely bad about the situation but vowed not to let the years go by like that.
He told me he entered the reserves to help pay off his debt. Rodney wanted to be a teacher and a football coach. He entered 5 months of training for the army and came home to start his life with his wife Amanda. September 11th happened and he was called to immediate duty. I kept my contact through her, got updates, etc. He was over here in December for Christmas. I found this out after the fact. I had just started to keep email contact with Rodney when I received the call from his wife.
Rodney, I'm sorry I couldn't be there this time to get you out of trouble or carry you when you needed it most. With a heavy heart though, I will be there to carry you for the final time. I love you man...
http://www.wral.com/news/3295374/detail.html
Heading to his funeral this weekend
