Civilian deploys in support of war

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Carolyn Viss
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  One man left Dyess Saturday to deploy with U.S. Armed Forces for the fourth time, and he wasn't wearing a uniform. 

Lino Prez has worked for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service for the last 15 years and voluntarily spent more than two years in the Middle East on three other deployments. 

He says it's been the adventure of a lifetime, and he's looking forward to his next six-month tour there. 

"In 1996, AAFES came up with a team to go overseas," Mr. Prez said. 

AAFES sends civilian employees to go set up exchange stores in the areas of responsibility in order to help get servicemembers the comforts they need from home. He and his team do everything in the store, from working the cash register to driving a forklift. 

"We take so much for granted in the United States," he said. "But over there, when we give (them) even the simplest things, they're so grateful. I'm not going for the money ... I'm going to help Soldiers and Airmen get what they need." 

The Texas native left his wife, Norma, and two grown stepdaughters, Amanda and Brandi, behind, and doesn't know his exact destination yet, but seems calm, cool, and collected about the whole thing. 

"I've been to Bosnia, Iraq, and Babylon," Mr. Prez said, to name just a few of the countries he's visited during his tours overseas. 

"I've met soldiers from all around the world and all around the U.S. - they literally befriended me and invited me to visit them in their homes if I was ever in their (area)." 

The deployments are not easy, he said. 

They travel, accompanied by U.S. Armed Forces, in convoys or Blackhawk aircraft on a regular basis, and are often targets of hostile fire. 

But the 49-year-old is an avid hunter and an expert marksman on several weapons, and is okay with wearing Kevlar and body armor and even being shot at. "I'm not worried," Mr. Prez said. "I have faith." 

In fact, he is a newly-converted Christian and said part of his curiosity in going to the Middle East is to see Biblical land, "But wherever they put me is fine." 

The group he went with totaled between 500 and 600 people from AAFES stores all around the country. 

"I'm just looking forward to getting settled there after all the traveling is over," Mr. Prez said. "I'm proud to go and serve with our armed forces."