Saturday, December 14, 2024
Diana Vasquez’s life began in the fields of Texas, where she was part of a migrant family of farm workers. Growing up, her family traveled from Texas to Wisconsin and Washington State for work.
“I was born in Texas, but my family did a lot of migrating when I was growing up ... harvesting whatever was in season like asparagus, sugar beets and cucumbers. That was our main source of income,” Vasquez recalls. As the youngest of five sisters, her upbringing was steeped in hard work, resilience and challenges.
Schooling was often interrupted by their nomadic lifestyle. “I never stayed in the same school for more than five months,” she says. Vasquez attended school in Wisconsin for half the year and returned to Texas for the other half.
This instability strengthened her desire for a consistent education. “I wanted to stay and finish school with my other friends,” she explains. After high school, Vasquez graduated from De Leon High School in Texas, determined to carve out a different path for herself.
Following graduation, Vasquez moved to Georgia, where she felt a calling for something greater than the traditional life her older sisters were pursuing.
DESIRE TO SERVE
Vasquez always had an innate desire to help others, a quality that set her apart from a young age. “If somebody was struggling, I knew I had to help them,” she said. Her mother often shared stories of Vasquez’s selflessness, like when she would literally give her shoes to children in need while visiting family in Mexico. “I knew you weren’t like the other girls,” her mother would say.
From an early age, Vasquez knew she wanted to be more, and it came as no surprise when she later enlisted to serve in the United States military, driven by a calling to make a greater impact.
THE ARMY CALLED
Many of her friends were getting married and starting families, but Vasquez wanted more. “I wanted to assist others and see the world,” she reflects. The military offered her that opportunity, promising adventure and the chance to serve.
In 1998, Vasquez made the decision to join the Army. “I wasn’t really scared. I’ve never been the scared type,” she states confidently. Her fearless, adventurous spirit was evident; she embraced challenges and sought new experiences like jumping out of planes and bungee jumping.
Once in the Army, Vasquez traveled for deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. “I actually did get to see the world,” she says. Greenland and Iceland were just two places on a long manifest of countries she visited, but her favorite place was Dubai.
She fondly recalls a time in Dubai during her R&R when she enjoyed sand surfing, parasailing and going to the mall. “Despite the uniform, you still want to feel pretty sometimes,” Vasquez shares, “So I went to the mall and got myself a makeover.
“Then they asked if I wanted to buy the product.” Admiring her reflection in the mirror, she responded, “Yeah, I’ll buy everything that y’all put on my face.
“I didn’t know the currency translation, and I spent $800 on makeup!” she laughs, recalling the surprise she had to share with her husband. “I still have all that Mac makeup.”
FROM MECHANIC TO CRYPTO LINGUIST
Vasquez served in two military occupational specialties. Initially trained as an aviation mechanic, her path shifted dramatically after 9/11. She transitioned to military intelligence, becoming a crypto linguist.
“I had a top-secret clearance,” she explains, reflecting on the gravity of her responsibilities. “We did a lot of collection and jamming of types of communications they had — like push-to-talk radio communication. My job was to collect and jam whatever was being said.”
Working with an interpreter who would translate communication, Vasquez and her team deciphered whether a situation was urgent and required dispersing or if it was nonthreatening.
Throughout her 10 years of service, Vasquez faced the realities of combat, albeit indirectly. While she never shot directly at anyone, her role in intelligence was crucial in identifying threats and guiding operations.
“We worked closely with special forces, providing them with the information they needed to carry out missions,” she said. Witnessing these operations from a distance was both thrilling and devastating. “It was really tough for me,” Vasquez admits, grappling with the death she saw.
Vasquez’s experiences in the military were not without their emotional toll. “I know that in spite of the bad guys being as bad as they were, they still had someone out there — a mother, a father, a family,” she reflects thoughtfully.
The burden of making life-and-death decisions weighed heavily on her. Yet, for all the challenges she faced, Vasquez looks back on her military career with pride. “I have no regrets — no remorse,” she states firmly. Her adventurous spirit and desire to help others defined her journey from the fields of Texas to the frontlines of military service. “Despite all my injuries,” she says, “I’ve had 51 surgeries from head to toe… it’s all worth it."
Today, as she reflects on her path, Vasquez embodies the strength and resilience of a woman who has not only served her country but has also inspired those around her, particularly her nieces and nephews, showing them that there is more to life than what meets the eye.
Vasquez revealed the challenges she faced as a female soldier and the trauma she endured. “As a female, it’s almost like double trouble.” She explained that the dangers didn’t just come from the enemy but also from within her own unit.
She discussed the issue of military sexual abuse, stating, “There is a lot of military sexual trauma that happens to females that goes unspoken.” Vasquez courageously spoke up about her experience with a Marine noncommissioned officer who tried to undermine her.
“He was a higher rank,” she shared, “I spoke up, and he tried to get me in so much trouble ... I wasn’t going to be a victim.” Thankfully, she had a supportive chain of command that believed in her and recognized her character and integrity.
“They knew that I was married and wasn’t one of those that would mess around or lie,” she said. The support she received from her superiors during that tough time was validating.
However, Vasquez pointed out that the abuse challenges were not limited to interactions with male soldiers. “You have to look out for your male counterparts. But try being sexually harassed by a female.” This added complexity made it hard for her to determine whom she could trust. “You’re danged if you do and danged if you don’t,” she said.
Vasquez’s story is one of resilience in the face of adversity. Her commitment to raising awareness about sexual trauma in the military is a crucial part of her narrative. Through her advocacy, she aims to bring about positive change for future generations of service members.
BE THE CHANGE
Vasquez also reflected on how her military experience changed her. She mentioned, “You kind of lose a part of yourself in the service,” and acknowledged that while she may never return to the person she was before, she aims to be a better version of herself. Vasquez stressed the importance of personal growth, stating, “If you want to see a change, you’ve got to be the change.”
Vasquez has been proactive in creating support systems for veterans, particularly women. She initiated a nonprofit 501(c)(3) called Star, Stripes, and Sacrifice, which includes an annual backpack drive for homeless veterans.
Each backpack is filled with essential items and serves as a reminder of kindness and support. Vasquez explained, “Everybody deserves a blessing. Whether you served or not, you’re still an American, and you shouldn’t be going without,” she says.
Reflecting on the broader community of veterans, Vasquez spoke about the friendships she built during her service, noting, “I am still friends with 80% of the people that I served with.” These relationships formed a strong bond of camaraderie and loyalty, which she holds dear.
“The ones who deserve the recognition are the ones who didn’t make it home,” Vasquez says. The pride in her service shines through as she shares, “It was an honor for me to serve. I think the American people are worth it.”
To donate and or attend the Stars, Stripes, and Sacrifice Fundraiser dinner Nov. 9 at Tacote Mexican restaurant in Glen Rose from 4-10 p.m. There will be food, games, prizes and a silent auction benefiting the organization. Items being raffled off are a 2024 Polaris 4-wheeler, for which 200 tickets will be sold for $50 each, and a Kott 125 Dirtbike, with 100 tickets for sale at $25 each.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call 254-979-6359, visit Stars Stripes and Sacrifice on Facebook at https://m.facebook.com/SgtDianaVasquez, or the website: Stars, Stripes & Sacrifice.
