FORT NOVOSEL, Ala. – From a September day in 1987 when he departed the Hawaiian Islands for basic training to the last day at his final duty station of Fort Novosel, Ala., Immanuel DelaCruz has seen a lot of change during his nearly 37-year career. “You can look at the news and social media today to see how the world and the U.S. have changed,” he said.
Changing from Private DelaCruz taking his Oath of Enlistment to Chief Warrant Officer Five DelaCruz, and now preparing to move over to the retiree rolls on July 1, 2024, DelaCruz has amassed 13,445 days in service of the U.S. Army. In the end, there is a man who has a strong faith and a sense of duty. “To this day, I praise the Lord for opening the doors for this change and opportunity in my military career,” DelaCruz said as he summed up the changes he has seen.
President Ronald Reagan was in office when DelaCruz began basic and advanced individual training at Fort Dix, as an aircraft powerplant mechanic. The Army issued him the battle dress uniform and leather boots that he would learn to shine. Upon completion of training, he was stationed in West Germany during a time of reunification in the country after George H.W. Bush taking office.
It was in Germany where Delacruz says he had the fondest memory of his career. DelaCruz met Rhojon Shimabuku, a self-proclaimed military brat who was on break from college and visiting her family who were also stationed in Germany. They married about 18 months after they met, and he added a wedding ring to his personal uniform.
DelaCruz would wear the six-color desert camouflage uniform while serving in Desert Shield/Desert Storm to repel the invading Iraqi forces from Kuwait, countries few could find on a world map. He and Rhojon wrote letters and used pre-paid phone cards to stay connected.
“Throughout my young career in the Army, my leadership always encouraged me to apply for the Flight Warrant Program,” DelaCruz explained. Shortly after completing seven years of enlisted service, President Bill Clinton entered the oval office and DelaCruz was selected for the Warrant Officer Candidate School and subsequent flight training courses to qualify as a U.S. Army aviator.
While attending these courses at Fort Novosel, the DelaCruz family grew to include a daughter, Ivy. DelaCruz began wearing a pilot’s solid green flight suit, or the “pickle suit,” during his flight training. He would continue wearing it during his earliest assignment in Korea and at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Their son Christian was born at the latter location.
When President George W. Bush entered office, Rhojon was a stay-at-home mom volunteering in their various communities. Delacruz was assigned to a “secret paradise,” Camp Zama, Japan, where he says being an instructor pilot was the highlight of his career because it allowed him to travel around Asia and Australia with his family.
The “pickle suit” uniforms were replaced by the Army aircrew combat uniform before President Barack Obama was sworn in and would go through a couple of pattern versions before President Donald Trump left the oval office in 2021. DelaCruz wore the A2CU while serving two more times in Germany, two deployments to Iraq, once again in Korea and Fort Novosel, then finally in Fort Cavazos, Texas.
During his first deployment to Iraq, he and Rhojon would update a family blog to stay in contact. As technology advanced and they had a more reliable internet connection during his second Iraq deployment, they used Skype to video chat.
Fort Novosel was his last duty station. Before his retirement date, their children had departed home for college and to begin their own lives. DelaCruz had one last uniform to wear before he departed the Home of Army Aviation for the last time, his army service uniform, formerly known as dress blues.
Over the five different decades DelaCruz served, he has seen a lot of change to his personal ASUs. This is reflected in the change from enlisted Soldier to commissioned officer, numerous changes in distinctive unit insignia and most assuredly in the accumulation of awards reflecting the formal recognition of a successful career.
DelaCruz’s uniform is adorned with numerous medals and devices, from Army Achievement Medals to the Bronze Star, for exemplary service and achievement, plus multiple rows of service and campaign ribbons. He has earned the Master Army Aviator Badge, the Senior Army Aviator Badge, as well as the Army Aviation Badge, Air Assault Badge and the Driver and Mechanic Badge.
He also received the Order of Saint Michael (Gold) from the Army Aviation Association of America. For her support in their communities, Rhojon received various awards of recognition, including the Order of Our Lady Loreto from AAAA for her support of Army aviation.
At his retirement ceremony in February, DelaCruz received the Legion of Merit in recognition of his illustrious career, and he was presented a Presidential Letter of Appreciation signed by President Joe Biden.
“At the end of our Army adventure, it seems like such a dream,” Rhojon says. “We are blessed to have had all these incredible opportunities and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for our next chapter of life.”
He began his career as an aircraft mechanic. As a pilot, DelaCruz served as a Command Warrant Officer and as an instructor pilot. Chief Warrant Officer Five DelaCruz completed his career as the aviation safety officer for the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory. The DelaCruz family plans to retire in Texas.
After 13,445 days of service, he deserves to soar on a glidepath into new adventures with the same precision and grace that marked his illustrious career. “The past 37 years have been an amazing adventure,” DelaCruz concludes, “and I look forward to new opportunities ahead.”
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