Ramon Diaz, of Westfield, left, runs to the waiting arms of his children Jake, 10, center, and Nick, 12, during a welcome home ceremony at Bradley International Airport yesterday. Also on hand was his wife Maria and friends and family members. Diaz was stationed overseas for six months. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. – At around 1 p.m. yesterday, Nick and Jake Diaz arrived at Bradley International Airport with their Mother, Maria, expecting to pick up their grandmother from Puerto Rico.
So it came as a huge shock for the boys to see their father, Major Ramon “Ray” Diaz, walking off that U.S. Airways jet instead, returning from a six-month tour in the Middle East.
Diaz, who served as a deputy commander of the Force Support Squadron at an Air National Guard base during his tour, has served in the ANG for over 25 years, and grinned from ear to ear as he walked up to his family in his fatigues, arms wide open.
Ramon Diaz, of Westfield, is surrounded by his children, Jake and Nick, and his wife Maria, during a welcome home ceremony at Bradley International Airport yesterday. Diaz was deployed overseas for the past six months with the United States Air Force. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
“It’s very good to be home,” said Diaz. “It was pure, utter joy. I’ve been dying to get back to the family. My son Nick has grown three inches since I left. He’s as tall as me.”
This was the first full tour for Diaz, a systems architect for MassMutual and member of the Westfield School Committee, whose Force Support Squadron handled food and lodging for the base and was responsible for hundreds of military personnel at any one time.
“We feed everyone and give them shelter, handle all their paperwork, and we bring groups in from the U.S. to keep them entertained,” he said. “Whenever theres a buildup, our squadron would be heavily tasked because we have to find places to put people.”
After the initial whirlwind of hugging their old man for the first time in six months had subsided, Diaz’ sons were able to summarize the moment in what few words they could muster, still shocked that their dad was not only on U.S. soil, but coming home with them to Westfield.
Ramon Diaz, left, receives a warm welcome from members of the Barnes 104th Fighter Wing during a ceremony at Bradley International Airport yesterday. Diaz has been depoyed overseas for the past six months with the United States Air Force. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
“It feels awesome,” said Jake Diaz, 10. “I thought the grandma story was real.”
“I thought ‘you’ve got to be kidding me,'” said his brother Nick, 12. “I felt tricked, surprised and happy at the same time.”
Maria Diaz joked with her boys, smiling and hugging them as their father hugged and shook hands with the large contingent of hometown friends who had made the trip to Bradley to greet him.
Diaz said that through technology he was able to stay up-to-date about what was going on in the Diaz home. He also said that he was in on convincing the boys that it was Grandma who would be arriving on that U.S. Airways jet yesterday.
“We had wireless Internet out there, so I was able to keep in touch and Skype with the family on the weekends,” said Diaz, who couldn’t stop smiling even if he’d wanted to.
“It’s been a whirlwind. We did a lot of work, every day I was out there, every singe day,” he said. “I’m glad to be home and get a little bit of a break. I need some rest.”
Diaz was also quick to thank his family and the city of Westfield for their support during his deployment.
“They always tell us in the military and we always hear it at retirement parties, but when you serve, your family serves, and thats entirely true.” said Diaz, crediting his wife and family for staying strong while he was away. “In addition to that, the city as a whole… Neighbors mowed my lawn and cleaned my driveway, any time they could watch the kids and help out with Boy Scouts. They did that out of the goodness of their hearts.”
“It’s not just the person who goes (overseas). We do what we have to,” he said. “We couldn’t do it without everybody over here picking up the slack. Westfield as a community has been great.”
Asked what is on tap for him and his family, Diaz said he would be taking some time off to spend with his family before returning to work and the school committee.
“I have to report back in tomorrow, so I’ll find out how long I’ll be on orders and how much leave I have,” he said. “But I’m going to go someplace to relax with the family.”
