Rodgers and his command were ordered to the Pacific theater of operations in December 1944 and his unit was now redesignated Amphibious Group ELEVEN. He assumed additional duty as Commander, Battleship Division 3 and led his command during the Iwo Jima Campaign in February-March 1945 and Battle of Okinawa in May-June of that year. In both campaigns, troops under his command were responsible for the support of the landings. Despite repeated attempts by hostile suicide boats to strike his ships and incessant attacks by enemy aircraft, Rodgers directed the units under his command in supporting minesweeping and underwater demolition operations in preparation for the main assaults on objectives; supported landings and subsequent advances of our troops; and provided scheduled bombardments in support of our daily attacks against each Japanese stronghold in turn. He was decorated with second Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his service in the Pacific theater.