Jose "Joe" Diaz Jr.

Retired US Army Aviation Chief Warrant Officer and Vietnam War Veteran Joe Diaz began his final journey home on May 19, 2022. Born on December 28, 1938 in Cotulla, Texas, Joe graduated from Burbank High School in 1957 and entered military service immediately thereafter. He is survived by three children, Debra D. Diaz-Almendarez (Alfred), David D. Diaz, and Dina D. Hernandez (Ramiro), three brothers and one sister, Richard Diaz of Crystal City, Ygnacio Diaz, Mary Diaz Martinez, and Daniel D. Diaz of San Antonio, 14 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren - two boys and three girls. His father J.C. Diaz and his mother Christina C. Diaz preceded him in death.

His dreams as a young boy were to become a paratrooper and an airplane pilot. Ten years after he joined the Army, he became both. In 1957, he joined the newly reactivated 101st Airborne Division and at the age of 22, became the youngest paratrooper to earn the Master Parachutist badge on April 24, 1961. On May 5, 1965, he and his unit, the 173rd Airborne Brigade were ordered from Okinawa to the Republic of South Vietnam where he served a year as a Combat Medic with the 1st Bn. 503rd Abn Inf. 173 Abn Bde. In 1967, he attended and completed the Warrant Officer Fixed Wing Aviator Flight Training Program and returned to Vietnam for his second tour of duty as an aviator. After completing his second tour of duty in Vietnam, he was reassigned to Fort Rucker, Alabama where he served an unprecedented six-year tour of duty as Flight Instructor with the Department of Primary/Graduate Fixed Wing Training, US Army Aviation School. During his military career, he served in Germany, Okinawa and 2 tours in Vietnam and two in Korea. On December 31, 1981, he retired from military service to continue his aviation career in the civil aviation industry as a Certified Flight Instructor and Airline Transport Pilot.

He worked as Chief Pilot for an Investment Corporation in Rockport, TX. And as a flight instructor for FlightSafety International. As a pilot, he flew C-130 and DC-8 Heavy Jets for Southern Air Transport.

After his retirement and true to his personal motto "Stay busy and eliminate boredom," he became active in city government, veterans and civic organizations, and as a Concealed Handgun License Instructor. He was an endowed member of Masonic Army Lodge 1105, former member of the San Antonio Lodge of Perfection-Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and Alzafar Shrine Temple.

As a cancer survivor, he organized teams and participated in several Relays for Life events to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. In 2005, he was selected as the first and one of two cancer survivors in the San Antonio metroplex to be selected as a Hero of Hope by the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9186, Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 1836, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 25, Alamo Silver Wings Airborne Association and the U.S. Military Veterans Parade Association. He served as Post Commander of VFW Post 2059 in Kirby, VFW District 20 Commander, VFW State Inspector, Commander of the Alamo Silver Wings Airborne Association and in numerous positions with the VFW and US Military Veterans Parade Association. In 2002, he was the fourth VFW District 20 Commander to earn All State and All-American honors in the same year-an accomplishment only achieved seven times in the history of the District since it was organized in 1946. He also served several terms on the Kirby City Council as Council Member and one as as Mayor Pro-Tem.

A Viewing will be held from 5:00 to 9:00 PM with a presentation by the VFW Honor Guard at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at Roy Akers Funeral Home, 515 N Main Ave. San Antonio, Texas 78205. A Rosary will follow at 7:00 PM that evening as well. A Funeral Mass will be at the Fort Sam Houston Post Chapel at 9:30 AM on Thursday, June 16, 2022 and final interment with military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donation contributions in his honor to the American Cancer Society, 8115 Datapoint Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229.

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