Army Cpl. Michael M. Rojas, 21, Fresno; killed by a roadside bomb

Michael M. Rojas was the sort of soldier who had no qualms about taking the lead during patrols in Iraq, even volunteering to replace a buddy who was ill.

The Fresno resident also was a dutiful son who regularly called family members after a mission to assure them he was all right.

But last month, that anticipated call did not come.

The 21-year-old Army corporal was one of two soldiers killed April 18 when a roadside bomb exploded near their Humvee in Taji, north of Baghdad. Cpl. Wade J. Oglesby, 27, of Grand Junction, Colo., also died in the blast. Both men served in the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

About 1,000 people attended Rojas’ funeral late last month at Valley Christian Center in Fresno, where the machine gunner was remembered as a hero who loved his family and friends, and who had recently made a personal commitment to God.

“He gave his life to the Lord, and he gave his life for his country,” said Marge Ainley, women’s pastor at Valley Christian and the mother of Doug Ainley, the church’s senior pastor, who officiated at the funeral.

On March 7, Rojas telephoned his mother, Debbie Apodaca, with the news about his religious decision and said he had that day bought a CD of praise music at the Army commissary.

“He was reading his Bible all the time, and praying for people,” Marge Ainley said. “And this was very encouraging to his mother.”

When Apodaca received his call, “she almost broke down,” said Rojas’ sister, Melissa Cordova. On more than one occasion, Cordova overheard her mother speaking with Rojas after 2 a.m. about his new life as a Christian.

“That’s something she can always remember: that she got to read the Bible with Michael, and they got even closer over the phone,” Cordova said.

Rojas, who had four sisters, wanted to enlist in the Army as far back as his freshman year in high school. Cordova said her younger brother wanted to join the military and eventually return to Fresno to work in law enforcement.

“He’s always been against drugs and things that brought other people down,” she said. “He always said he wanted to do things to make a difference.”

Rojas played football as a defensive back all four years that he attended Clovis East High School, and despite his thin frame was a standout player, said head coach Tim Murphy.

“When he went to the military right out of high school, he really grew up in a hurry,” Murphy said. “He believed very much in what he was doing.”

Noel Cavazos, a fellow football team member and friend since eighth grade, said Rojas had a sudden growth spurt after his graduation in 2004. Rojas grew at least two inches and picked up more than 25 pounds, he said.

“It was amazing how much he changed from high school to after boot camp,” Cavazos said.

When Rojas wasn’t cracking jokes, he enjoyed playing pickup football or basketball games and playing video games.

“He was a very funny guy,” Cavazos said. “He just lit up a room when he was around. He never wanted to see anyone sad.”

While on leave in September, Rojas married his wife, Katrina, a civilian he met while stationed at Ft. Lewis. His family said he looked forward to completing a one-year tour of Iraq and returning to the U.S. in June, but his stint was extended to October.

Marge Ainley of Valley Christian said the soldier’s legacy became clear at his funeral. At the end of the service, the pastor invited those in the crowd to come to Jesus, and dozens of people responded.

“There were 50 or 60 hands that went up,” she said. “That’s the fruit of Michael’s life; it really was. And God used it.”

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