Charles Rodriguez

Charles Rodriguez in uniform [1942] War: World War II, 1939-1946 Branch: Army Unit: 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) Service Location: Fort MacArthur, San Pedro, California; Abilene, Texas; Camp Carson, Colorado; Karachi, India; Burma; China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater Rank: Private Place of Birth: Contra Costa County, CA

A 22-year-old “Zoot Suitor” with a passion for Glen Miller and Count Basie, Charles Rodriguez left his birthplace in Contra Costa County, California in 1942 to serve in the Army’s 5307th Composite Unit. Signing up for a secret deployment with no knowledge of location or mission, Rodriguez landed in Burma. He served with Merrill’s Marauders, going behind Japanese lines to prevent cutoff of critical supply lines into India and China.