Rock Diaz Impersonates His Way To First Class

Rock Diaz wasn’t returning home after spending a year or more in the blistering heat of Afghanistan fighting for our country.  He wasn’t counting the seconds to see his new born child for the first time.  He wasn’t still shaking from the sheer memories of some of the most horrific days of his life and praying it was all just bad dream and hadn’t really happened.  No, according to the Huffington Post, Rock just impersonated a military officer and was flown first class from the Dominican Republic to New York Friday….for the price of a coach ticket.

Diaz, from Long Island, wearing dog tags, military fatigues and cap, was moved to first class by a flight attendant, understandably thinking that he was a soldier.  Diaz had done none of the heroic things that someone normally in this attire had done, yet he reaped one of the very few rewards given a soldier, as he boarded the American Airline’s plane according to The New York Post.

His scam was only discovered after the plane landed and a customs officer asked his rank and Diaz responded with his pay grade, not rank, and from what we’re told, his dog tags read “U.S.A. Marines Corp" and a number of his military patches were sewn in the wrong locations on his uniform.

Under New York law, Diaz has been charged with second-degree impersonation.  He would have had to impersonate a physician or law enforcement officer to have been charged “first degree”.

American Airlines, as do many other airlines, has a standing policy to move soldiers to first class seats, regardless of their ticket purchase, if those seats are available.

For all our military brethren in the area, please know that we appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made and continue to make.  It’s also our prayer that these airlines won’t abandon this perk because of the self-serving few who would abuse it.  You’ve earned it.  This and so much more!  As we approach our nation’s birthday, please accept our Thanks for a job well done!  You are the best this country has to offer and we are the greatest nation in the world BECAUSE OF YOU!