Name: John Joseph William Roden Rank: Sergeant Service Number: 004506410 Service: Detachment B-16, 1st Mobile Strike Force Command (MSFC), Company C, 5th Special Force Group, United States Army, Vietnam (USARV) Awards: Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star Date of Birth: March 2, 1943 Place of Birth: Halifax, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: October 26, 1965 Place of Enlistment: Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine Date of Death: October 11, 1969 Age at Death: 26 Cemetery: Gate of Cemetery, Lower Sackville, Halifax County, Nova Scotia Remembered on Panel 17, Line 69 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, DC Remembered on the Canadian Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Windsor, Ontario. John Joseph ‘Jackie’ William Roden was the son of Bernard Gerald Roden (1918-1984) and Margaret Mary (Richard) Roden (1925-2017), and brother of Gerald R. Roden (1945-1991), David Roden, Bill Roden, and Margaret Anne (Roden) Joseph Byrne. John’s father was born in Saskatchewan and his mother was born in Halifax, NS. John’s father served in the Navy (dates unknown). John enlisted in October of 1965 and joined the US Army. He was assigned to the United States Army, Vietnam (USARV) and his tour began on June 1, 1968. He served with Detachment B-16 of the 1st Mobile Strike Force Command (1ST MSFC) in Company C of the 5th Special Force Group. As a special forces’ infantryman, John was known as a Green Beret. He was awarded the Bronze Star. The Citation reads: "Specialist Roden distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 and 28 September 1968 while serving as a Special Forces advisor to Camp Thuong Duc. He constantly exposed himself to withering automatic weapons, mortar, and rocket fire from the enemy as he manned a 106 recoilless rifle bringing effective fire on entrenched enemy positions. Specialist Roden's accurate fire on the enemy relieved pressure on other defense positions within the camp. His accurate fire and his fearlessness in the face of such intensive enemy fire were an inspiration to the men manning the positions near him. When ammunition was getting low in the positions, he left what little cover he had and moved under intensive enemy fire to the ammo bunker to secure ammunition and then moved from position to position distributing it. His timely distribution of ammunition and his complete disregard for his own safety under intense enemy fire gave great encouragement to his comrades. Specialist Roden's personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Special Forces, and the United States Army." He was also presented with the Army Commendation Medal in October 1969. Sergeant John Roden died in Quang Nam province in South Vietnam of a non-battle related drowning. His body was recovered, and he is interred at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Lower Sackville, Halifax County, NS, and remembered on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall at the National Mall in Washington, DC, and the Canadian Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The North Wall) in Windsor, Ontario. Vietnam Veterans Day is commemorated each March 29th in the United States of America.

John Joseph William Roden

Sources: findagrave – Gate of Heaven Cemetery findagrave – Vietnam Memorial Vietnam Memorial The Wall of Faces by the Vietnam War Memorial Fund (background photo: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall)

Presentation of the Army Commendation Medal October 1969.