Richard “Dick” Diaz

Richard “Dick” Diaz was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the oldest of ten. When he was 10 years old his father, a career Submarine Sailor, was transferred to San Diego where Dick attended grades 4-12 in National City, graduating from Sweetwater Union High School in 1965.

After graduation Dick enlisted in the Marine Corps for 4 years. His Basic Training was at MCRD San Diego and Camp Pendleton. After a short time in Memphis, Tennessee he was stationed at MCAS El Toro in Irvine, California, with Third Marine Air Wing VMGR 352 as an aircraft First Mechanic on a KC130F Hercules Air Refueler/Transport Aircraft.

VMGR 352 made frequent Transpacific flights to Vietnam continuously performing in-air refueling along the way for Marine Corps F-4 Phantom fighter jets making their way to Vietnam. He was a First Mechanic on the flight crew on those flights. While on operations within Vietnam, their mission was either in-air refueling bomb laden F-4’s over the Gulf of Tonkin or transporting troops and equipment to various bases, Chu Lai, Dong Ha, Phu Bai, and Da Nang. He logged over 1,000 flight hours as a flight crew member onboard the KC130F.

While in Vietnam during 1967-1968, Dick was exposed to Agent Orange and in 1981 was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer. But it was not until December 2021 through a court order that the Veterans Administration recognized Bladder Cancer as directly associated with Disabilities or Death of Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange. In 2022, he was classified by the Veterans Administration as having disabilities associated with his service in Vietnam and exposure to Agent Orange.
Dick started his law enforcement career with the Orange Police Department after his service in the Marine Corps. His law enforcement career was from October 10, 1969-March 25, 2006. During that time, Dick served with the Orange Police Department, Signal Hill Police Department, Fillmore Police Department and Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. Dick was the police chief here in Fillmore.

He and his wife Carolyn live in Fillmore, and have five children, 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

USMC Active January 10, 1966-October 10, 1969

USMC Inactive Reserves October 10, 1969-January 10, 1971

Sergeant E5 MOS 6314 Jet Engine Mechanic/Flight Crew KC 130F Air Refueler/Transport Aircraftid.