Rodney Torrijos Rocero

Rodney Rocero was born at Fort Ord, California in 1957. The youngest of five siblings, he graduated Seaside High School in 1975 and earned an Associate of Arts Degree from Monterey Peninsula College in 1977. He enjoyed martial arts, writing prose, playing music, singing (won several local karaoke competitions), dancing, fishing, and hiking/camping the nearby Big Sur National Forest. He joined the United States Air Force in April 1979 completing Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He trained at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, as a Medical Service Specialist with his first assignment being at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, where he worked in the Emergency Room and the Medical Surgical Unit. Wanting to get stationed overseas, he attended the Aeromedical Evacuation School at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. He earned his Basic Crew Member Wings and received certifications to fly on the C-9 Nightingale, C-141 Starlifter, and the C-130 Hercules Aircraft. He was assigned to the 9th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines on June 1981. He helped transport routine and urgent patients throughout the region including Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand then onto the Continental United States via Guam, Hawaii and California. His main duties were working Special Equipment preparing aircraft for recurring medevac missions and Aircrew Scheduler for planning nursing crew assignments. He married his wife Merisencia and his son Ryan was born in the Philippines.

His tour ended September 1985 and he was assigned to the 30th Medical Group, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. His assignments included Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC) Emergency Services, Assistant NCOIC Medical Surgical Ward, NCOIC Labor and Delivery, 30th Medical Group Unit Training Manager, NCOIC Medical Readiness Office, and NCOIC Primary Treatment Flight (which included the Emergency Department, Pediatrics and Family Practice). His daughter Rachel was born at the 30th Medical Group. He challenged the California Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) Exam and earned his license in 1991. He was deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch, a military operation to support the Persian Gulf War and received the Southwest Asia Service Medal. During his career, he also earned two Air Force Commendation medals and three Air Force Achievement medals, among other awards. He retired from the Air Force May 1999 after serving his country for 20 years.

Rodney utilized his LVN license as a Civil Service Employee working at Vandenberg Air Force Base in the Family Practice Clinic and Allergy/Immunization Clinic. He worked at the Santa Maria Wisdom Center caring for elderly and dementia patients to give family respite from caring for their loved ones. He ended his nursing career retiring at the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Santa Maria, where he won the regional Secretary of Veterans Affairs Award for Excellence in Nursing.

He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Association and long-time member of the Air Force Sergeants Association. He was also a member of the Filipino American Association of Santa Maria Valley, enjoying cultural festivities and singing in the choir.

Rodney’s primary love and joy in life has always been his family and cherished friends. He is survived by his wife of over 40 years, Merisencia, son Ryan and daughter Rachel, daughter-in-law Colleen, son-in-law Earl, grandchildren—Selene, Colette, Aiden and Evan, and his beloved siblings Maribeth and Fidel Jr.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.baysidecommunitymortuary.com for the Rocero family.