2 years ago
(WUSA) -- Maj. Alan G. Rogers was a good friend, but then again, his friends were his 'family.' When he is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, he will be surrounded by a huge circle of those friends.
Just hours before he was killed in Baghdad Sunday, by an improvised explosive device, the soldier reached out to his friends here in the Washington. Tami Sodowski says she may have been the last person stateside to hear his voice.
"He just said he missed us and he couldn't wait to come home," she says.
Another friend, Dave Valcourt from Alexandria says, "(Rogers') friends were his family. Alan's parents were killed in car accident years ago. He was an only child."
"Everywhere he went he touched people...If you knew him, you were a friend," he added.
Since they learned of his death Sunday, Valcourt and Sadowski have connected with more than 100 other 'friends' just in DC.
He had spent three years working at the Pentagon, and he volunteered his time at Walter Reed, they say, helping out his wounded comrades. He was also a minister.
Rogers was due home in March to be the best man in his buddy's wedding.
Talking him out of returning to Iraq was impossible, his friends say, because his other calling was to serve his country.
Friends say the military put him through school and he eventually earned his Masters in public policy at Georgetown University. So in his honor, his 'family of friends' will set up a scholarship fund.
Major Rogers was with the Army's Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade.
For information about his memorial service and the scholarship fund, send an email to TheAlanGRogersFund@gmail.com
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