Hello, everyone; welcome back to another update. Today we’ll be discussing the passing of a cherished military figure.
On August 11, Army Lt. Col. Roderick Vinson, a veteran whose service spanned 37 years, tragically passed while exercising near his off-base residence in Sumter, South Carolina. This sad news was confirmed by Army officials.
“The ARCENT Family is devastated by the untimely passing of Lt. Col. Roderick Vinson, a beloved member of our team and an incredible leader in the organization,” said Col. Jason Squitier, ARCENT’s deputy chief of staff. “He left an enormously positive impact on every person with whom he interacted, and we miss him dearly. We send our condolences to his family and friends, and our prayers are with them during this difficult time.”
The sudden demise of Vinson is currently being investigated. However, at this point, foul play is not suspected, according to the Sumter Police Department and County Coroner’s Office. The precise cause of his death will be determined through an autopsy scheduled to take place on Thursday. Please note that it may take some time for the results of this autopsy to be released.
Army Lt. Col. Roderick Vinson, 55, died on Aug. 11 while exercising near his home in Sumter, South Carolina. https://t.co/H5OR9OG0yq
— Task & Purpose (@TaskandPurpose) August 15, 2024
To commemorate Lt. Col. Roderick Vinson, it’s essential to understand not just his role as a military officer but also his character as an individual. Vinson was known for his deep commitment to charity work, a dedication that deepened after he became the father of premature twin boys. Born weighing only 2.9 and 3.1 pounds, the twins spent their first five to six weeks in the hospital, all while Vinson was deployed, leaving his wife alone to face this testing situation.
Vinson expressed gratitude towards the March of Dimes for advancing technology that supported his sons and other premature babies. He actively collected donations for this charity during his 2011 deployment in Afghanistan. He was quoted saying, “I do not believe people fully appreciate how special children are, and the struggles people have to not only have them but to keep them healthy. March of Dimes helps to provide this special gift to parents.”
At the time of his death, 55-year-old Vinson was a reservist in a Contingency Active Duty for Operational Support (CO-ADOS) status assigned to U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. His roles included serving in the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention section, the safety directorate, and the G-4 logistics directorate.
Col. Jason Squitier, ARCENT’s deputy chief of staff, voiced the distress of the ARCENT Family, stating, “He left an enormously positive impact on every person with whom he interacted, and we miss him dearly. We send our condolences to his family and friends, and our prayers are with them during this difficult time.”
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Vinson enlisted in the Army in 1987 as a Fighting Vehicle Infantryman. He was commissioned as a Transportation Officer in 1999 and served in the Army National Guard till 2009. The rest of his service was spent in the Army Reserve. Vinson was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 2017 and assigned to ARCENT the following year.
Throughout his Army career, Vinson was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, and Kuwait. His service record is decorated with multiple military accolades, such as the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, and the Joint Service Commendation Medal.
We honor and remember Lt. Col. Roderick Vinson for his significant contributions to the military, as well as his unwavering dedication to charity work. His passing is an enormous loss, not just to the military community, but to everyone whose life he touched. Thank you all for joining us, and we’ll meet again in the next update.
