RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
A few weeks ago, 13-year-old Jared Garza watched a television documentary on fighter pilots from the living room of his home and envisioned himself in that same role someday.
But on Feb. 27, that someday didn't seem so far away as Jared met real fighter pilots at Randolph and saw the Air Force's defining mission through their eyes.
Dressed in the flight suit of the 560th Flying Training Squadron, the "Chargin' Cheetahs" who conducted bombing missions in Europe during World War II and requalified prisoners of war for flight following the Vietnam War, Jared stood tall as the storied unit's Pilot for a Day.
By day's end, Jared and his entourage of family members had watched a video on Red Flag, the aerial combat training exercise conducted at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and toured the 560th FTS' home in Hangar 12 with Col. Kenneth Frollini, squadron commander, as their guide. They had also seen the base's trainer aircraft up close, toured the fire department and the Taj Mahal and spent some time in aircraft simulators, where Jared displayed his dexterity.
"It was cool," the quiet, soft-spoken Jared said. "I liked watching the video and seeing the planes."
An unexpected highlight came when Jared, a basketball player and diehard Spurs fan, met the Spurs Coyote.
Pilot for a Day, which started at Randolph in 1994 and is funded through donations from organizations such as the Randolph Officers' Spouses Club, is a program for children with chronic illnesses.
Jared's aunt, Deborah Lara, who works at the 562nd FTS, nominated him for the program; Maj. Joel "Thor" Neeb of the 560th FTS coordinated the visit.
"It's a fantastic opportunity to give back to the community," Major Neeb said. "We've served 81 children since the program began. It's a program that started here and permeated through the Air Force. Now the concept's copied by airlines and tons of squadrons, so it's pretty much a regional program now."
Major Neeb said members of the squadron enthusiastically seek participation in Pilot for a Day.
"We're blessed to have a job that's exciting to children," Major Neeb said. "With minimal effort we can bring some joy to families that have suffered heartbreak. It's an opportunity for us to do something for a family that's having a hard time and to put smiles on their faces."
The past year has been a trying one for Jared and his family. In May he started showing symptoms of lethargy and shortness of breath that worried his mother, Merry. She said he even stopped playing basketball with his friends because he was too tired. But it took three visits to the doctor to discover what was wrong.
Jared's diagnosis was a germ-cell tumor on his left lung.
"A massive tumor was in his chest," Ms. Garza said. "We were devastated."
She said the upper part of his lung was crushed, and the tumor was also putting pressure on his heart.
Jared began a series of five chemotherapy sessions in late July at Santa Rosa Hospital and underwent surgery to remove the tumor after the fourth round.
Ms. Garza said Jared's care required much of her time, so other family members stepped in to assist her, taking care of her other son, John, and her daughters Connie and Hannah.
"I couldn't have made it without them," she said.
Meanwhile, Jared responded like a warrior.
"He did well through the chemo sessions," Ms. Garza said, though there was one period when he wasn't able to eat for 21 days. "Now he's doing awesome. They think they got everything out."
Jared, an eighth-grader at Harlandale Middle School, misses his friends at school and the time he could be spending on the basketball court. He goes to school about one hour a day, but Ms. Garza said she is hopeful that he will be back at school full time this fall.
She said Jared's faith helped him endure the chemotherapy sessions. His resilience sustained her.
"He's my hero," she said. "He's kept me going."