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Army officer was a best man in all senses

Posted: Friday, March 14, 2008 1:01 PM
Filed Under:

By John Rutherford, Producer, NBC News, Washington

WASHINGTON – Army Maj. Alan Rogers had no family of his own, so his friends became his family, and scores of them turned out Friday to say good-bye to him.

Rogers was killed Jan. 27 by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

An Army band led the procession down Bradley Road to Rogers' gravesite, followed by a horse-drawn caisson and all of those friends – civilian and military, young and old, black and white.

Image: Army Maj. Alan Rogers was killed by a roadside bomb on Jan. 27 in Baghdad
Courtesy U.S. Army
Army Maj. Alan Rogers was killed by a roadside bomb on Jan. 27 in Baghdad.

"Today we lay to rest Maj. Alan Greg Rogers, a man of great courage," an Army chaplain told the mourners. "Whenever he was needed, he was there."

Rogers was remembered for his love of cookouts and entertaining friends.

"Alan was such a sweet, kind, loving person," a friend wrote in the online guest book. "He brought everyone together to have a good time."

An only child of elderly parents, Rogers was often called home to Hampton, Fla., for medical emergencies.

"A mother couldn't have asked for a better son," a former neighbor told the Gainesville Sun. "Anytime they called, he would get here if he could."

The 40-year-old Rogers graduated from the University of Florida and had a graduate degree in public policy from Georgetown University. He was a career Army officer and an ordained minister.

"We have lost a special person in Alan," a fellow Army officer wrote in guest book.

His parents passed away and he was divorced with no children. But he had his friends, one of whom he contacted just hours before his death.

"He just said he missed us," the friend told the television station WUSA, "and he couldn't wait to come home." 

Rogers was due home this month, to be best man at a friend's wedding.

Washington Producer John Rutherford is a decorated Vietnam veteran. He also posts stories on the military at www.dailynightly.msnbc.com (click on "John Rutherford" under "categories") and at http://john-rutherford.newsvine.com/. A tribute gallery to U.S. service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22802019/.

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Farewell Maj. Alan Rogers...

I am overtaken by a sense of real saddness to read about the death of Alan Rogers in Iraq.  It is evident our President and Congress are willing to sacrifice our best, our bravest, our most dedicated, and our most outstanding American to what end, for what reason?  There are no reasons, no causes, nothing that can justify the sacrifice of someone of Maj. Alan Rogers character and superior person.  To date 3,975 brave Americans have lost their lives in Iraq.    
I can only send to those who knew Alan Rogers my heart felt condolenses. I salute you Major and have nothing but deep saddness in your passing.
I sense a brillant light shined from the person and soul of Maj. Rogers, while a dark cloud looms over the soul of American.

Rest in Peace, Major Alan Rogers
 
Major Alan Rogers was one of America's very best.  He might have had no living family, but many of us wish he was part of ours.  
Jana,
If you support the war then you support his death. sorry but it's as simple as that.
God Bless Alan, God ---- this war. Too many people like Alan are dying for a lie, and a grudge.

To Reba Barber, Columbia Ms.
REBA, I sincerely hope and pray that your tears are not turned to tears of grief, for your brother, I'll pray and include him in my thoughts and hopefully the only tears you shed for your brother, are tears of Joy, when he comes home.,
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR HOUSE. Dave Prator, Ogden Utah.

how can anyone support this illegal war,  get our men and women out of fucking Iraq,  I hate GW what a monster to send our families to die like this...  only a few more months and he will be gone,  thank god
Dear Media,

Why have no magazines offered a full page spread on a good man and soldier like Army Major Alan Rogers? Why don't you spread the photos of our soldiers and other military personell all over your pages and celebrate them instead of the Sluts and murderers, filthy politicians and other lowlifes? The American People are getting fed up with your immorality. Get A life!

FiftyYearFan
God bless his soul; may he rest in peace.  Major Rogers gave his life so that others may be free.  Now he is free. So sad that another fine young man is no longer with us.  Thank you Major Rogers and all the other wonderful men and women in our armed services.
God bless his soul; may he rest in peace.  Major Rogers gave his life so that others may be free.  Now he is free. So sad that another fine young man is no longer with us.  Thank you Major Rogers and all the other wonderful men and women in our armed services.
Maj. Rogers was a fine man and his life an inspiration.  In a better world, his needless death would give pause to those who started and continue this reckless war.  That the best of us are being sacrificed without cause should be an outrage.  Nearly 4,000 Americans have been killed and yet this phony war continues unabated.  Maj. Rogers deserved better from our leaders; they failed him. We will remember him well.  
Do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.
How sad that fine men such as Alan Rogers are killed in this unnecessary war. What an apalling, tragic waste.
TRAGIC,SENSELESS DEATH OF A GREAT HUMAN BEING..FIVE YEARS AT THIS WAR AND THE IRAQI ARMY STILL CAN'T STAND ALONE...WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MISSION ACCOMPLISHED A FEW MONTHS INTO THE WAR?TO BAD PRES.BUSH COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THIS BRAVE WHEN HE HAD A CHANCE TO FIGHT IN VIET-NAM...BUT YOU MUST ADMIT....HE DID KEEP THE VIETCONG OUT OF ALABAMA!!!!!
It is unfortunate that he died but we all must remember he died defending freedom abroad so we wouldn't have to do it at home.  People like this are rare and it is sad he had to pass.
In a sane world, these men and women who are dying needlessly would be fixing our economy, promoting peace and living examples of love and dedication to our nation. They would be fine ambassadors to countries that now hate us and would transform America into the country that it has aspired to be since its inception. Deaths like this one are real tragedies,
I read these comments and thought? How varried they are in tone and text, each one speaking out freely his or her position or opinion. That rigth has been saves for us by the likes of this dearly departed.
My he find eternat rest in the loving arms of our Lord.
Thanks to you brother we all can love or villify your life and do it freely. God Bless America
TMH
Alan was a friend of mine, and I attended his burial at Arlington on Friday.  Scores of his friends showed up, and even more showed up at a social gathering in his honor that night.  What was remarkable about both was just how many people showed up from such long distances (one person came from Korea), and from how many different walks of life they came from.  Alan had a unique talent for bringing people together.  I knew Alan through the local Washington, D.C. gay community.  While he was at Georgetown, he served as treasurer and membership coordinator for American Veterans for Equal Rights, a gay and lesbian veterans' organization.  He said he was delighted to be able to do something for the gay community that was consistent with his Army obligations.  I remember him organizing both social events for our group, and trips over to the Soldier's and Sailor's Home to bring care packages to elderly veterans.  I have only learned recently that he was also an ordained minister, and that he had so many other devoted friends, both inside and outside the Army, who accepted him exactly the way he was.  Alan was one of the kindest and most positive people I ever met.  A real loss.
Michael Park city Ut
How dare you say that I support his death - I support what we are fighting for!! Our freedom to walk the streets of America free from fear of terrorist that are jealous of our freedom to do so!!! I am sad that our men and women are having to fight for it "our FREEDOM"
Get off your soapbox Michael Park city Ut and show a little support for the man that this article was posted for.  He died for you!!!!!
Maj Rogers;  Sir, Thank you
Michael Park city Ut

I will say a prayer for you tonite - enjoy your home cooked meal and your latte today as you reflect on this so called grudge war we are fighting.  

GOD BLESS EVERY MAN AND WOMAN THAT ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM - STAND STRONG AND MAY GOD BLESS THE GENTLEMAN IN WHICH THIS STORY WAS WROTE FOR "he for sure has a place in heavan - do you?"
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven;
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to sow,
and a time to harvest;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break
down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to
mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain
from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep,
and a time to throw away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be
quiet, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war,
and a time for peace.
    -The Book of Ecclesiastes
         Chapter 3, verses 1-8

May you rest in peace, Maj. Rogers. May the heavens themselves break and mourn for thee.
We should send older, experienced guys over into conflict areas. They survived combat and know how to. Our soldiiers WIN. The enemy fight us the only way they can. I respect and salute all our warriors and the job they are doing.If we want this to end quicker, people should open their eyes and stop buying gas from MOBIL/EXXON and the middle east. Also if we sent over a lot more troops(1-2 million) with GENERALS that are in the thick of it. IRAQ is a large area and we do not have enough guys over their to win quickly.Politics is just war with a pen instead of a gun. Until we step up and support democracy all over the world, brave men like Major Rogers will continue to have to lead others in war torn areas without end. When a man can yell and curse at his husband or wife can yell and curse at hers in front of Walmart or Mcdonalds anywhere in IRAQ, that is when we will have won this oil fight.  
I say start the draft, ramp up just like WW2 with 10 million under arms and CRUSH our enemies.

Iran, Syria and our "friends" the Saudis are neck deep in this insurgency. If you are going to start a war then you had better WIN it or don't start one.
All the pro-war, pro-Bush crowd seems capable of doing is trotting out of the same tired old GOP-approved patriotic cliches: he died so that others may be free, he fought to keep us safe. That's simply a crock - this soldier sounds like an honorable and decent man, but he didn't die for a slogan, he died because the president lied us into an unnecessary war, for no reason. That's why he and thousands of others have died. We're not any freer or safer because we invaded Iraq - in fact we were freer and safer before we invaded. I honor the courage of Alan Rogers, and I curse George Bush for needlessly wasting his life and so many others.
I HONOR ANY PERSON WHO FOLLOWS THEIR CONSCIENCE AND DEDICATES THEIR LIFE TO THE CAUSE IN WHICH THEY BELIEVE WHETHER FOR AGAINST WHAT I BELIEVE.  THIS IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER THE WAR IS JUST OR RIGHT, IT IS ABOUT THE LOSS WE HAVE ALL SUFFERED IN THE DEATH OF MAJOR ROGERS AND ALL HIS FELLOW SOLDIERS. CAN WE NOT UNITE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND JUST HONOR HIM AND MOURN HIS LOSS AND  LEAVE OUR PETTY DIFFERENCES FOR ANOTHER TIME.  MAY THE LORD BLESS HIM AND KEEP HIM
My heart goes out to Maj Rogers friends, he sounds like he was a wonderful man.

As a military mom and aunt, I support our brave men and women in the armed forces 100%.  When we lose one of our US soldiers, even if we didn't know them, we all share the sorrow.  God Bless.
Major Rogers is a brother in arms. All of my family and family-in laws have been military since the past one hundred years from the Civil to WWI to WWII to Korea to Vietnam to the Cold War in Europe to Desert Storm to Iraqi Freedom. I know what it feels like to have numerous loved ones and friends in harm's way in many different places around the world. I know what it feels like to be one of those in harm's way. I know what it feels like to the wife and mother of one of our military memebers in harm's way. While we may feel like we should be in any particular location we damn well better support our troops in every way and don't use this memorial to Major Alan Rogers and others as a platform to espouse your anti-war viewpoints. There is a time and a place for that but not here. Here's to a super trooper Major Rogers, may you forever be "standing tall and looking good". Our brother is at peace and he was a good and faithful "soldier". Would that we all could be the same rather than mean-spirited to each other. Amen.  
I find myself wondering if the people who are agenest this war are aware of the fact. that the soldiers that make it out An the ones that get wonded, to the extent of loss of leg AND arm.They have this need to go back to help the people that live their!My grandson just had to go three times.  My thanks goes out to all who stoud up for 911 and the opressed    NEVER FORGET
Denny, I feel so sorry for you and others like you. Maj Rogers and the other men and women in America went to war, and are daily going to war, so you have the right to decry what is going on that you obviously don't understand.  Freedom has never been free!  When GW leaves, the war still won't be over and you just might lose your freedom to speak up as you did!  I thank GOD daily for our military who willingly lay down their lives for scum like you!
I could not help but notice, with keen interest, that not a single Washington politician wrote a comment on
Major Rogers passing. While they have time to vote themselves bloated salaries and benifits i.e.,. after only ONE term in office, they receive (for life) $167,000 a year plus yearly raises and a total (100%) medical/dental coverage package. The other perks they give themselves are to numberous to list here. And yet, politicians like Mrs. Clinton, Mrs. Polsi and Mr. Reid have never once taken the time to visit our wounded veterans at Walter Reed Hospital or attended the funeral of any troops from their respective States
who had been killed in battle. I guess they are just to busy ploting their reelection and partying with the lobyists.
"THIS MAN IS NOT A HERO, A HERO DOES SOMETHING OUT STANDING. ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. THIS MAN DID WHAT THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS DO EVERY DAY BUT WAS JUST COUGHT IN THE WRONG PLACE .YES I FEEL FOR HIS FREINDS,BUT WE MUST NOT IMORTLIZE EVERY PERSON WHO SERVES FOR US LEST WE FORGET THOSE THAT DO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL."

 Baddad, you say that this man was no hero because he didn't do anything out of the ordinary. Allow me to point out that every single man and woman in the military are volunteers. Yes, we have some extraordinary people who have done what would seem to be near impossible deeds to take a hill or save a life and they deserve recognition. But every single one of these men and women joined a military organization knowing full well that it could be the last thing they ever do. Nothing extraordinary? This man as well as thousands of others run to the sound of gunfire and explosions when every instinct in anyone else says to run away. These men and women do this because they believe in protecting not only our freedoms, but also in giving the people of Iraq a chance to have those same freedoms. Not a hero? How do you define a hero? Audy Murphy standing on a burning tank as he provided cover fire for his men in an ambush? Absolutely. But another hero is any person who puts everything on the line for a belief. Who stands in defense of people who cannot or will not make that stand for themselves. Who stand on the line, asking for very little in return...they just do what's needed. Not for fame or fortune or medals or pats on the back. They don't even demand that you agree with what they are doing. All they ask is for respect. And what of the people left behind by those who have lost their lives or limbs or ability to continue doing what they trained to do? The children who have lost mothers and fathers? Or, in this case, the elderly parents who depended on this man, knowing that there was a chance they could have lost their support that they need? And yet, these people have sacrificed a son. Not willingly, to be sure, but with no regrets. Not a hero? This man and every single person in the military who serve with honor and dedication are the living definition of hero.
While i do not support the war in Iraq. I am proud to support the men and women of our armed forces. This story has really touched me and has furthered my belief that we should bring home our soldiers. To those who knew Maj. Rodgers, i am very sorry for your loss.
God bless his soul. Another fine American hero is reporting to the gates of heaven where heroes go to rest.  Good job,sir
Senator Hillary Clinton should realize the facts and
understand that the politician is to represent the
citizens, not themselves once they had been given the
privledge by the voter. The politician is to represent the law that had been reviewed by the public. I am sure that there are people who would like to have their "say" and be counted.  Not only
the one vote Sen. H. Clinton considers to be her
way of thought.     -Mark G. Zawada  Staten Island NY
If I read it correctly, Sick_Of_This_Mess in Cucamonga, CA, it appears that because of men like Alan, 7 of 8 children in Iraq DO live to see age 5....and more. THAT makes him "some Hero".
Remember we have an all VOLUNTEER military now! These men served their country, willingly and selflessly. For the ones that doubt that my marine will STILL defend you and others like you.
Major Rogers may not have had any "immediate" family, but he did have his military family. To any and all who knew him or served with him, my heart is breaking for you all. As a wife and mom to four military veterans, I worry every day about the men and women overseas. I pray every day that an end to this "conflict" can be found before any more bloodshed. Please pray for the soldiers overseas, and PLEASE help me to remind those who are enjoying the freedoms that they take for granted every day, that there is a reason they have these freedoms, and one of those reasons was Major Rogers. Rest in peace Sir, your job is done. Sadly....
1 in 8 Iraqi children don't make it to age 5. Let's remember the vast majority of Iraqis killed are killed by arab made bombs. The militants kill many more civilians than coalition forces; and they don't care.
Jim Plante- i was with right up till your last sentence.  Come back to planet earth. It's nice down here.
GODHAVE MERCY ON ALAN ROGER'S SOUL.
Our soldiers, sailors and airmen are all heroes.  When they are gone we'll have no more.  Let's stop wasting them in this inane and pointless war.
a Great man god bless his soul
I am an Army Officer who has served in Iraq. I feel saddened for everyone who is a casuality.However, I feel enraged for those who criticize those of us who serve. Please, move to another country where you do not have the right to free speech. Maybe you will rot away in prison, and, like your opinion of this fellow Soldier, you will not be a hero
Any man or woman who goes to war  runs the risk of dying,  That is what makws each one of the losts terrible, but it is heroic to go,  if you dont think so go there and find out for yourself,   IED's dont care about race, creed, or ant thing eles, for that matter.  Every service person who dies for freedom, is a hero, period.
Please know that I will send out a warm prayer for your friend. Thank you for putting something inspiring and uplifting about our troops and the men & women fighting for each and every one of us.

I am a veteran and a mother and I am trying to raise my children to be honorable and stand up for the weak as your friend did.

Know that Major Rogers knows you loved him and know that he hears every loving word...
I posted a reply to this yesterday, but I don't see it, please forgive me, I didn't notice that this was for Republican Bushbabies only.
I like to think that God takes the good ones, and leaves us here so we have peers to look up to. Rest in peace Maj. Rogers.
I respect the soldiers that are fighting in the war, but you guys have it wrong...protecting freedom? WTF? what are you retarded? we're messing them over and people are getting rich of it while OUR middle class, lower class soldiers are dying for the man in charge, some freedom huh, I bet the iraqis love their freedom..... too bad their not getting it because we want oil. But you did not die in vain though brother, rest in peace.
Maj. Rodgers sacrifice was just that - a sacrifice, made by a man who went above and beyond, not for how he died, but because he volunteered to do a heroic duty to his country, his fellow soldiers, and even for the individuals who now villify him in these comments.  He made a choice to make a difference and stand for something he believed in, even if it meant his life - he did not have a sense that life or the world owed him anything, or that he was entitled to the freedoms that we all share, rather that he had to earn it, as many of our brothers and sisters do every day.  I will honor his sacrifice, and that of our family in uniform every day, as a testament to those who earn our respect everyday by standing for all of us as we have stood before and others will stand in the future.  God bless us all!

This man and many others have given their all for the right for some of you to complain and cut down the US and send the blame to others.Being former military myself--I may not agree with what you say-But will fight to the death your right to say it--GOD BLESS THE USA--And our Troops
To Mr. Whalen and "Sick of this mess",

  In the future when you type comments for everyone to read, please think about your posture. I realize how difficult it must be typing with your heads that far up there, not to mention doing so without aid of opposable thumbs, but sitting upright should help your situation! My apologies gentlemen, I overlooked the glaring contradiction that sitting upright requires a spine. Please forgive my oversight.


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