“Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste death but once”
William Shakespear, Julius Caesar
Statement from SSGT Jason A. Rogers’ Company Commander:
SSgt Rogers exemplified the term Marine. He was a true mentor to the Marines that he led, he was slow to yell, quick to correct, and happy to praise. Young Marines respected him; his magnetic personality and smile put young men at ease in tough situations. I am grateful to have known him and I know that I will never forget what he did for my Marines. On the day prior to SSgt Rogers going out on the next operation, I pulled him in my office and told him "your job is to look out for the well being of your Marines, protect them like a pit bull." On that day a situation arose where he did just that. Two of his Marines were severely wounded while clearing a compound. One of SSgt Rogers' Marines struck a pressure plate IED. SSgt Rogers immediately recognized the gravity of the situation and rushed to the aid of his injured Marines. He rushed to their aid and arrived to find that they had sustained very serious wounds and would surely die if he didn't do something. SSgt Rogers was a rock solid example in a traumatic situation, directing the Marines to stay calm and keep focused, while he continued to ensure that the Marines tending to the casualties were responsive and coherent. SSgt Rogers ordered the Marines to keep the casualties responding with oral communication. Even after this group of Marines had already experienced one mass casualty situation that day, SSgt Rogers was able to provide the combat tested leadership that kept their focus on the task at hand. Recognizing that his wounded Marines would require stretchers to be moved and that his Marines would soon die if they didn't receive higher level care, SSgt Rogers wasted no time and assigned the remaining engineers to assist the Corpsman in preparing the two wounded Marines for evacuation. Without regard for his own life and focused solely on getting his Marines to safety, he charged across 20 meters of uncleared, IED laden terrain in order to retrieve two litters from his nearby vehicle. He unhesitatingly crossed the 20 meter IED laden area in order to make his way back to his Marines. Once he returned, he instructed the remaining engineers to prepare the casualties for evacuation. Fueled by a tenacious desire to evacuate his Marines to safety, SSgt Rogers once again without hesitation or regard for his own life, placed himself between the enemy's devices and his Marines by using a Vallon metal detector to sweep a lane for their evacuation. As he cleared the lane that he had traversed twice previously, he picked up a metallic signature with his metal detector. As SSgt Rogers went to confirm the IED, it detonated, and he succumbed to his wounds instantly. Through his heroic actions and ferocious desire to save the lives of his critically wounded Marines, he paid the ultimate price and ensured that every last Marine came out of the compound alive. Had SSgt Rogers not taken the point man position in order to provide freedom of movement to the litter bearers, the lead litter team would most certainly have struck the IED and led to the lost lives of most if not all of the engineer squad. SSgt Rogers is a hero in the truest sense of the word. I can't tell you how proud I am to say that I knew him and I will tell my children and grand children of the Marine who guarded the lives of his Marines with ferociousness tenacity. On the day he left I told him to protect his Marines like a pit bull and he did just that.
From Jason Rogers Mother - Jennifer Smith:
From an early age, Jason was always smiling and caring. Always making sure you were okay. If I was sad he would come sit with me and hug me to cheer me up. He always cared for other people before he would himself. As early as 2 years old if he saw a person begging for money on the street, Jason insisted on stopping to give them something. Even if it was only pocket change he wanted to help the needy. Jason had such a caring heart. I was visiting Jason’s grave site at the cemetery when a van pulled up. A young adult got out with his mother. He asked if I was Jason’s mother. I said “yes.” He said Jason saved his life. He told me that he had been bullied at school and hit over the head with a fire extinguisher one day when kids were trying to beat him up. Jason intervened. He just wanted to tell me “Thank you.” Jason had a funny personality. You could not stay around him for any length of time without laughing. But that’s what he did. He had a very unique wit. And he was a thinker. He also loved his clothes. He loved to look sharp. He LOVED his tennis shoes. They had to be white and clean. His jeans had to look a certain way. One reason he wanted to join the Marine Corps is because they have the best looking uniforms. He thought they were the sharpest. After boot camp, he would wear his dress blues to the mall just to go walk around and be seen. Before Jason’s 4th deployment, many parents came up to us and to tell us of how proud and comforted they were that Jason would be their Marines squad leader because they had heard of his leadership skills and experience. Jason was a child God lent me for a while to love and raise and he was put here to be exactly who he was. When I think back to the events of his life, which is really too much to put here, his purpose was to share his soul and help others. To be a Marine, set an example and to help others. After Jason’s death, I received dozens of letters from Marines about what they learned from him. I found out Jason’s vehicle had been previously hit by an IED. It was not his time to go. There was more for him to teach, more for people to learn. The last year of his life fell into place like it was supposed to. He was able to see everyone, say what he wanted to say to everyone, marry his bride, go on a family vacation, be home for Christmas and see the Celtics play. But when he left before his last deployment, there was a feeling in his soul that he wasn’t coming home. I felt it and he felt it. I could see it and he knew it. I can honestly say the last words we said to each other was “I love you”. He sent a letter to me to be mailed when he went on his last deployment to clear Ladaar Bazaar. It said, “If you get this letter, don’t worry, I’ll see you on the other side.” And that I will.