Serving through the season: Airman Basic Alex Diaz

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Erin Smith
  • 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) --  For many people, cooking for a holiday gathering may mean about 10 people, but for the staff at the Hale' Aina Dining Facility here, this holiday crowd can mean more than 300 Airmen and retirees.

Airman Basic Alex Diaz is assigned to the 15th Services Squadron. He and other services Airmen at the dining facility will be busy in the kitchen Christmas day, preparing a huge feast for those who come to partake of the holiday meal. Though he is working on Christmas, for him, it is a rewarding job and he feels part of a something bigger.

"I feel like I'm doing something that actually matters and not just a regular job," he said. "It feels good, I wanted to do something different and make a difference in someone's life."

Airman Diaz joined the military fresh out of high school in July 2006. He arrived here in November and quickly became a part of the dining facility staff, working on the Thanksgiving day feast.

"Airman Diaz came in and became part of the team before he inprocessed the base," said Tech. Sgt. Regan Tingelhoff, 15th Services Squadron. "He's eager to learn and pitches in with whatever needs to be done. He's enthusiastic, hardworking and is an outstanding contribution to the Hale' Aina Dining Facility."

This Christmas, the traditional Christmas menu will include turkey, ham, roast beef, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, green beans, assorted desserts and drinks. The staff will start in the wee hours of the morning to prepare six turkeys, six rounds of roast beef and 12 hams.

Even though he is working on the Christmas holiday, he doesn't mind and looks forward to the day.

"The Air Force helped me out a lot," he said. "It's helped me stand on my own two feet, and it's helping me out in my career. It's starting me up and I love it. I miss my family and everything but, it's worth it."

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