“We who serve tend not to look on it as remarkable,” retired Admiral Diego E. Hernandez was quoted as saying in a modest but direct manner one expects of a military man, in a Miami Laker feature article on November 2, 2001.
“Remarkable” might be the best word to mark the career of this highly decorated Navy veteran who was honored as the Grand Marshal of the Miami Lakes Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 2001. He also served as Grand Marshal of the 1999 Veterans Day Parade.
Vice Admiral Hernandez, whose military career spanned from 1955 to 1993, was a longtime Miami Lakes resident. He died July 7 at 83 of complications from Parkinson’s disease at his Miami Lakes home.
He served in a variety of assignments in Navy fighter squadrons, flying from aircraft carriers deployed around the world. He flew two combat tours during the Vietnam War and was highly decorated for gallantry in action.
Hernandez rose through the ranks and a succession of high profile assignments: Commanding officer of carrier Air Wing Six, commanding officer of Fleet Oiler U.S.S. Truckee, commanding officer of Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. John F. Kennedy, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Caribbean, commander of Carrier Group Six, and commander of the U.S. Third Fleet.
His last assignment on active duty was a deputy commander in chief of the U.S. Space Command, and at the same time, served as vice commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
Upon retiring, Hernandez and his wife, Sherry, moved to Miami Lakes in 1991.
In addition to his wife, Hernandez is survived by daughters, Selena Haines and Dolores Lane; granddaughter, Angelina Haines; and sister, Rose.
A viewing was held on July 14 at Vista Memorial Gardens in Miami Lakes and a Funeral Mass was held on July 15 at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church.