Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Anita Stratton | U.S. Army Spc. Kyle Herbst (left), a grenadier with the Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion,...... read more read more
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In 2007, at 17-years old, two Central Oregon high school graduates joined the Oregon Army National Guard (ORANG): one, from Madras, became a combat engineer and the other, from Maupin, an infantryman. As times changed, they did too, but soon found they had more in common than most Soldiers. Though they started their careers in different units, they eventually ended up as infantrymen in the same organization.
Spc. Kyle Herbst’s desires were geared more to the infantry. He transferred into 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (CBCT) in Redmond, Ore., where he and Sgt. Sergio Calderon-Diaz (Diaz) trained together and developed a friendship.
Diaz started in the Recruit Sustainment Program (RSP), a delayed-entry process, until he attended basic training and advanced initial training. His former RSP instructor, Sgt. 1st Class Brain Tarvin, said he was a good, solid Soldier from the beginning.
Protecting and serving is at the heart of Diaz’s character. Currently considering a profession in law enforcement, he uses the skills he has learned in the military for his civilian job as an armed security guard at the Bonneville Dam and The Dalles Dam.
The two Soldiers have trained for nearly ten years together. The only time the duo was separated was in 2010-2011 during the 3rd Bn., 116th CBCT’s deployment to Iraq where they were assigned to two different brigades.
In Bravo Co., 3rd Bn., 116th CBCT, Diaz is a team leader and Herbst is a grenadier. Though not the grenadier’s job, his background in information technology makes him the subject matter expert on most communication systems. His size and determination enables him to be point man through thick brush and trees in both the U.S. and here in Europe.
During training at Exercise Saber Guardian 16 at the Romanian Land Forces Combat Training Center in Cincu, Romania, he moved through the brush so effortlessly that his squad mates were soon calling him Sasquatch.
Former platoon sergeant for 3rd Platoon in Woodburn, 1st Lt. Joshua Buker said, Herbst and Diaz are dependable, smart, have a ‘mission first’ attitude, are multitalented, and have with a desire to win. Diaz’ leadership was instrumental in Bravo Troop’s success during training at National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, Calif., in 2015.
Herbst proudly recalls, “I remember when this guy scored 26 kills on enemy [targets] at NTC. He shut down the lanes. It was great!”
Not only do Diaz’s skills attract attention, so does his hair. They called him Chinchilla in Iraq because his hair gets so poufy.
Joining the ORANG in 2007, landing in the same unit, their physical statures, sense of humor and character are not the only things these two Soldiers have in common. They were both married in 2007; Diaz in May and Herbst in September and they each have 3 children.
Herbst said, “We both managed to have two boys and a girl around the same time as the other, and in that order.”
When it comes to Soldiering, Diaz and Herbst also have similar beliefs. They are confident in their ability to accomplish any mission anywhere in the world and are both thrilled with the opportunity to train here in Romania.
| Date Taken: | 08.04.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.05.2016 10:04 |
| Story ID: | 206194 |
| Location: | CINCU, RO |
| Hometown: | BEND, OREGON, US |
| Hometown: | LA GRANDE, OREGON, US |
| Hometown: | MADRAS, OREGON, US |
| Hometown: | MAUPIN, OREGON, US |
| Hometown: | PENDLETON, OREGON, US |
| Hometown: | WOODBURN, OREGON, US |
| Web Views: | 281 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Two paths, two soldiers, one story, by SFC Anita Stratton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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