04/01/1974 - 09/16/2006
Petty Officer 2nd Class ET2 (EOD) David Sean Roddy, a Bel Air High School and Hartford Community College graduate, enlisted in the Navy in 1999. He made his mark in the Navy by becoming "Sailor of the Year" in 2002 while being stationed on the USS Juneau out of Japan. It was while he was in Japan, he became interested in exploring career opportunities with the Explosive Device operations. Dave was injured in Japan, when he was riding his bicycle in that country and a Japanese truck driver ran over him. He required 9 operations on his leg and thoughts of becoming an EOD were slim. Dave persevered and graduated from EOD school in 2005. He could have given up and applied to get disability, but his love of country and commitment were too strong.
He was assigned to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit. Petty Officer Roddy was most recently assigned to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit in Norfolk, Va., where he resided with his family. He was deployed to Iraq in June 2006. On September 16, 2006 he was killed in the Al Anbar province, Iraq by a bomb that detonated as he approached it to dismantle it.
From his early youth, Petty Officer David Sean Roddy could take things apart and fix them, even things like his father’s boat that didn’t need fixing. “David’s work helped save the lives of 20,000 soldiers, sailors and Marines based in Al Anbar province. After his death he was awarded the Purple Heart which was given to his family. "David was proud of the Navy", said his father.
David Roddy is survived by his wife, Cristale, a daughter Jessica, and father, Bob Roddy in Murrells Inlet, SC. His mother, Carol, passed away on June 9, 2013. Dave also had a brother and two nephews. He was 32 years old. It is not the date of his birth or the date of his death that makes a man, but the dashes in between.
Never Neglected, Never Forgotten.
Each week leading up to the Navy Special Operations Memorial 5K on Veteran’s Day 2019, we will be featuring one of our brothers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice since 9/11. It is important we take time to always remember these Warriors by telling a piece of their story.
Photo Credit: fallenheroesproject.org