Family tradition inspires deployed NCO
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN) -- The word "family" speaks to the hearts of everyone.
When some think of family, they think of an old home, a childhood memory or a relative. When Staff Sgt. Ernesto E. Diaz thinks of family, he thinks of the U.S. military.
A food service specialist with the 379th Expeditionary Services Squadron at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Diaz is the fifth generation of his family to join the military.
"I never thought I would serve," he said. "Looking back at my family's history, I suppose it was inevitable."
Diaz has had family in every branch of service except the Coast Guard. His father served in the Army, a cousin in the Navy, his uncle was a green beret in the Army's special forces and another cousin served in the Marine Corps.
Diaz is carrying on the tradition and is the first to serve in the Air Force.
The New York City native was always surrounded by the military. Diaz remembers when he was only 7, his uncle would come home and tell stories of jumping out of planes and eating wild animals in the jungle.
"He was like a movie hero," said Diaz, deployed to Al Udeid from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. "He always told me about the amazing things he'd do. His uniform was always sharp; he was very proud of it."
Diaz said it was his father who motivated him to serve his country.
"My father served in Vietnam and saw his friends killed," he said. "He survived, and I think eventually that was what inspired me to join."
While in high school, Diaz became interested in the technology used by the military, especially during Operation Desert Storm.
"We all thought the military tradition in the family had died, as no other members of my family had joined in the 90s. I had no interest whatsoever until the Desert Shield/Desert Storm conflict," he said.
Diaz is keeping his family tradition alive serving at Al Udeid in the war on terrorism. It is a service that he is more than willing to do.
"I'm originally from New York City, and was devastated to see the World Trade Center towers being destroyed," he said. "To know my enemies are no longer across long distances is extremely scary. At the same time, I know my time to fight is now. And being deployed to Al Udeid, I know all the field exercises I've participated in are going to finally pay off."
His wallet contains a small photo of his father in uniform, a reminder of why he serves.
"My inspiration really comes from my biggest idol, my father," he said. "Knowing that he was face-to-face with the enemy, wounded in combat, saw so many of his peers die, yet still be alive to tell the stories lets me know that one day victory will come to our side in the war on terrorism."
Though he does not fight on the front lines, Diaz is proud of his work for the services squadron. He contributes to the mission by preparing and serving meals for deployed Al Udeid warfighters.
"I may not jump out of planes or see combat face to face like my father," he said. "I may not work with the most advanced gadgets or instruments as my cousin did in the Navy, and I may not brag about my job being the best as my uncle used to. But I feel I am part of the best, and my job here is as important as anyone else's. I take pride in feeding the people of Al Udeid." .