Jose "Joe" P. Diaz, - (Master Sergeant, United States Army, retired),
passed away Sunday, February 7th, 2021 at the age of 94 at Brookside Glen in Columbus, Georgia. Mr, Diaz was born in Tilden, Texas, on April 18, 1926 to Roberto P. Diaz and Maria Del Jesus Moya Diaz. He was the eldest of nine brothers and sisters. He was a devout Roman Catholic and a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Columbus. He was a member of the VFW in Columbus, and was active in local senior citizens' groups.
Mr. Diaz was proceeded in his passing by his wife of 41 years, Dorothy Louise Diaz (d. Jul. 10, 1988), and his eldest son, Robert F. Diaz of Palm Harbor, FL (d. Jan. 30, 2014). Mr. Diaz is survived by three children, Mr. Daniel E. Diaz of Phenix City, AL, Maj. (Ret.) Richard P. Diaz of Enterprise, AL, and Ms. Diana L. Diaz Arrington of Anchorage, AK. Mr. Diaz is also survived by 22 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Military Career:
As a young man, Mr. Diaz attended Laredo High School in Laredo, Texas, and worked in his father's "Phillips 66" gas station. Mr. Diaz signed up with the Army while still in high school. After graduation, on his 18th birthday, he entered the Army and was later deployed to France. During WWII, he fought through France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and ended up in Germany in the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign of the Battle of the Bulge in 1945.
Mr. Diaz served in three wars, WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam, as well as other overseas duty assignments that include three years in Montevideo, Uruguay, two years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and a year at Ft. Buchannan, Puerto Rico. Mr. Diaz was awarded two Bronze Stars and seven Good Conduct medals as well as many other prestigious medals and honors for his exemplary military service.
Retirement Years:
Following his military career MSG Diaz wore his uniform for another 17 years teaching ROTC for the Muscogee County GA School District, mainly at Kendrick, Shaw, and Columbus High Schools. He received an award from the U.S. Army for having more cadets selected to the West Point Military Academy than any other ROTC Instructor in the United States. He cared deeply for his students and was a source of inspiration for them. He was loved by thousands of students and parents. It was during this time that he acquired his B.A. degree at Troy State University in Business Administration and majored in Political Science.
After retiring as a ROTC Instructor, Mr. Diaz acquired a contractor's license and began building houses, first his own then helping his daughter build her house. His family stated that he was always busy and always found someone to help.
As we celebrate the life of this inspiring man, it can proudly be said that he captured the essence of everyone's life whom he met. He is loved and will be missed by his family and extended family, as well as by thousands of friends, students and parents within the Columbus – Phenix City community.
A funeral service for Mr. Diaz was held at Vance Brooks Funeral Home, 4048 Macon Road, Columbus, GA on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, with Father Daniel O'Connell officiating. He was interred in a private ceremony at Fort Benning Main Post cemetery.
passed away Sunday, February 7th, 2021 at the age of 94 at Brookside Glen in Columbus, Georgia. Mr, Diaz was born in Tilden, Texas, on April 18, 1926 to Roberto P. Diaz and Maria Del Jesus Moya Diaz. He was the eldest of nine brothers and sisters. He was a devout Roman Catholic and a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Columbus. He was a member of the VFW in Columbus, and was active in local senior citizens' groups.
Mr. Diaz was proceeded in his passing by his wife of 41 years, Dorothy Louise Diaz (d. Jul. 10, 1988), and his eldest son, Robert F. Diaz of Palm Harbor, FL (d. Jan. 30, 2014). Mr. Diaz is survived by three children, Mr. Daniel E. Diaz of Phenix City, AL, Maj. (Ret.) Richard P. Diaz of Enterprise, AL, and Ms. Diana L. Diaz Arrington of Anchorage, AK. Mr. Diaz is also survived by 22 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Military Career:
As a young man, Mr. Diaz attended Laredo High School in Laredo, Texas, and worked in his father's "Phillips 66" gas station. Mr. Diaz signed up with the Army while still in high school. After graduation, on his 18th birthday, he entered the Army and was later deployed to France. During WWII, he fought through France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and ended up in Germany in the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign of the Battle of the Bulge in 1945.
Mr. Diaz served in three wars, WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam, as well as other overseas duty assignments that include three years in Montevideo, Uruguay, two years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and a year at Ft. Buchannan, Puerto Rico. Mr. Diaz was awarded two Bronze Stars and seven Good Conduct medals as well as many other prestigious medals and honors for his exemplary military service.
Retirement Years:
Following his military career MSG Diaz wore his uniform for another 17 years teaching ROTC for the Muscogee County GA School District, mainly at Kendrick, Shaw, and Columbus High Schools. He received an award from the U.S. Army for having more cadets selected to the West Point Military Academy than any other ROTC Instructor in the United States. He cared deeply for his students and was a source of inspiration for them. He was loved by thousands of students and parents. It was during this time that he acquired his B.A. degree at Troy State University in Business Administration and majored in Political Science.
After retiring as a ROTC Instructor, Mr. Diaz acquired a contractor's license and began building houses, first his own then helping his daughter build her house. His family stated that he was always busy and always found someone to help.
As we celebrate the life of this inspiring man, it can proudly be said that he captured the essence of everyone's life whom he met. He is loved and will be missed by his family and extended family, as well as by thousands of friends, students and parents within the Columbus – Phenix City community.
A funeral service for Mr. Diaz was held at Vance Brooks Funeral Home, 4048 Macon Road, Columbus, GA on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, with Father Daniel O'Connell officiating. He was interred in a private ceremony at Fort Benning Main Post cemetery.
Jose "Joe" P. Diaz, - (Master Sergeant, United States Army, retired),
passed away Sunday, February 7th, 2021 at the age of 94 at Brookside Glen in Columbus, Georgia. Mr, Diaz was born in Tilden, Texas, on April 18, 1926 to Roberto P. Diaz and Maria Del Jesus Moya Diaz. He was the eldest of nine brothers and sisters. He was a devout Roman Catholic and a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Columbus. He was a member of the VFW in Columbus, and was active in local senior citizens' groups.
Mr. Diaz was proceeded in his passing by his wife of 41 years, Dorothy Louise Diaz (d. Jul. 10, 1988), and his eldest son, Robert F. Diaz of Palm Harbor, FL (d. Jan. 30, 2014). Mr. Diaz is survived by three children, Mr. Daniel E. Diaz of Phenix City, AL, Maj. (Ret.) Richard P. Diaz of Enterprise, AL, and Ms. Diana L. Diaz Arrington of Anchorage, AK. Mr. Diaz is also survived by 22 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Military Career:
As a young man, Mr. Diaz attended Laredo High School in Laredo, Texas, and worked in his father's "Phillips 66" gas station. Mr. Diaz signed up with the Army while still in high school. After graduation, on his 18th birthday, he entered the Army and was later deployed to France. During WWII, he fought through France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and ended up in Germany in the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign of the Battle of the Bulge in 1945.
Mr. Diaz served in three wars, WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam, as well as other overseas duty assignments that include three years in Montevideo, Uruguay, two years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and a year at Ft. Buchannan, Puerto Rico. Mr. Diaz was awarded two Bronze Stars and seven Good Conduct medals as well as many other prestigious medals and honors for his exemplary military service.
Retirement Years:
Following his military career MSG Diaz wore his uniform for another 17 years teaching ROTC for the Muscogee County GA School District, mainly at Kendrick, Shaw, and Columbus High Schools. He received an award from the U.S. Army for having more cadets selected to the West Point Military Academy than any other ROTC Instructor in the United States. He cared deeply for his students and was a source of inspiration for them. He was loved by thousands of students and parents. It was during this time that he acquired his B.A. degree at Troy State University in Business Administration and majored in Political Science.
After retiring as a ROTC Instructor, Mr. Diaz acquired a contractor's license and began building houses, first his own then helping his daughter build her house. His family stated that he was always busy and always found someone to help.
As we celebrate the life of this inspiring man, it can proudly be said that he captured the essence of everyone's life whom he met. He is loved and will be missed by his family and extended family, as well as by thousands of friends, students and parents within the Columbus – Phenix City community.
A funeral service for Mr. Diaz was held at Vance Brooks Funeral Home, 4048 Macon Road, Columbus, GA on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, with Father Daniel O'Connell officiating. He was interred in a private ceremony at Fort Benning Main Post cemetery.
passed away Sunday, February 7th, 2021 at the age of 94 at Brookside Glen in Columbus, Georgia. Mr, Diaz was born in Tilden, Texas, on April 18, 1926 to Roberto P. Diaz and Maria Del Jesus Moya Diaz. He was the eldest of nine brothers and sisters. He was a devout Roman Catholic and a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Columbus. He was a member of the VFW in Columbus, and was active in local senior citizens' groups.
Mr. Diaz was proceeded in his passing by his wife of 41 years, Dorothy Louise Diaz (d. Jul. 10, 1988), and his eldest son, Robert F. Diaz of Palm Harbor, FL (d. Jan. 30, 2014). Mr. Diaz is survived by three children, Mr. Daniel E. Diaz of Phenix City, AL, Maj. (Ret.) Richard P. Diaz of Enterprise, AL, and Ms. Diana L. Diaz Arrington of Anchorage, AK. Mr. Diaz is also survived by 22 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Military Career:
As a young man, Mr. Diaz attended Laredo High School in Laredo, Texas, and worked in his father's "Phillips 66" gas station. Mr. Diaz signed up with the Army while still in high school. After graduation, on his 18th birthday, he entered the Army and was later deployed to France. During WWII, he fought through France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and ended up in Germany in the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign of the Battle of the Bulge in 1945.
Mr. Diaz served in three wars, WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam, as well as other overseas duty assignments that include three years in Montevideo, Uruguay, two years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and a year at Ft. Buchannan, Puerto Rico. Mr. Diaz was awarded two Bronze Stars and seven Good Conduct medals as well as many other prestigious medals and honors for his exemplary military service.
Retirement Years:
Following his military career MSG Diaz wore his uniform for another 17 years teaching ROTC for the Muscogee County GA School District, mainly at Kendrick, Shaw, and Columbus High Schools. He received an award from the U.S. Army for having more cadets selected to the West Point Military Academy than any other ROTC Instructor in the United States. He cared deeply for his students and was a source of inspiration for them. He was loved by thousands of students and parents. It was during this time that he acquired his B.A. degree at Troy State University in Business Administration and majored in Political Science.
After retiring as a ROTC Instructor, Mr. Diaz acquired a contractor's license and began building houses, first his own then helping his daughter build her house. His family stated that he was always busy and always found someone to help.
As we celebrate the life of this inspiring man, it can proudly be said that he captured the essence of everyone's life whom he met. He is loved and will be missed by his family and extended family, as well as by thousands of friends, students and parents within the Columbus – Phenix City community.
A funeral service for Mr. Diaz was held at Vance Brooks Funeral Home, 4048 Macon Road, Columbus, GA on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, with Father Daniel O'Connell officiating. He was interred in a private ceremony at Fort Benning Main Post cemetery.
