Courtesy Photo | (From left to right) Senior Airman Vincent Lopez stands with his stepmother Julia...... read more read more
By Air Force Capt. Nora Eyle
Combined Joint Task Force-82
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Most parents never know what life is like for their children at a deployed location, but for Senior Airman Vincent Lopez, an A-10 weapons loader, his parents have first-hand knowledge on life.
Lopez's father and stepmother are deployed with him working for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service.
The Lopez family is from El Paso, Texas, and Lopez's parents both work for AAFES in Dallas. Tony and Julia Lopez were deploying to another location in Afghanistan when they were redirected mid-flight to Bagram.
Lopez had no idea his parents were here until he got an e-mail message from his father telling him the news simply saying, "Hey, guess what? I'm here at Bagram."
Lopez headed to the Base Exchange as quickly as possible, talked to the employees and arranged a meeting with his dad.
"To be honest, this is the last place I'd ever think I'd see them," said Lopez.
Although their schedules are challenging to coordinate, they meet at least once a week at the BX or for meals where they can catch up on each other's experiences.
"It's a relief for my parents to know that I'm doing okay and it's really a unique experience for all of us," said a smiling Lopez.
Who has the tougher assignment is up for debate, but the Lopez parents will be here for a year, while their son may be here six months. As AAFES employees, Tony and Julia follow the same rules as service members working long hours. Tony insists his son has the more challenging assignment.
"He is the one that has a harder time and that's really my job to bring anything familiar we can to these guys from home, and in some cases that may even be a family member," he said.
It's not that difficult for Lopez because he likes working on A-10s.
"I love my job," said Lopez. There are not too many jobs in the civilian world where you can load bombs on aircraft."
The Lopez parents have not been to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., which is Lopez' home station, because they usually meet up halfway at El Paso to catch up with family and friends. So it's ironic that they've been able to visit with him here while he is stationed at Bagram.
"As a parent, the safety, security and environment are always on your mind," said Tony Lopez. "It's great that I can see what the conditions are and I know his team has really taken good care of him."
Lopez agrees, "It's great to have family here with me; it's made my deployment so much better."
| Date Taken: | 07.03.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.03.2007 08:53 |
| Story ID: | 11104 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 89 |
| Downloads: | 55 |
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