United States Air Force Senior Airman Aaron Bach embraces his mother, Thu Thi Ho, as his brother, David, looks on after surprising them on the field at the 2024 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas. (Doyle Rader/American Red Cross)
By: Jan Coopman, Alexis Gonzalez and Doyle Rader
A Garland family received the surprise of a lifetime in front of 45,000 college football fans at the 22nd Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth. With the help of the American Red Cross, ESPN and American Airlines, United States Air Force Senior Airman Aaron Bach walked out onto the field to surprise his mother, younger brother and other family members as they watched a video message from him on the stadium’s video boards.
They had no idea Bach would be there, thinking he was still on station in Japan. Dressed in his daily uniform, Bach took several strides toward midfield before opening his arms to embrace his shocked family. As the football crowd cheered and the family embraced—the true spirit of the Armed Forces Bowl on full display—he saved the tightest hug for his mom.
"She’s the one that has put me in this position. So, if anything, I am really appreciative of this experience because this is a very unique experience that she could experience because I'm in the Air Force,” Bach said. “This is the one thing that I just lucked out with, and I was able to provide, allow her to really just see this for herself. I don't think she would've ever imagined herself to be out there on the field and seeing myself in the jumbotron.”
Bach has been overseas for 10 months, but the time away from his family grew harder when his mother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in May 2024. As a single mom, Thu Thi Ho immigrated from Vietnam to South Carolina in 1994 and spoke very little English. She later moved to the Dallas area, finding a support system in the city of Garland and its vibrant Asian community.
There, Ho put Aaron and his brother, David, through college, with Aaron studying business at the University of Texas in Austin. Bach decided to enlist in the Air Force after college. He now serves as a senior airman and a medical material technician currently stationed in Kadena, Japan.
“This is my first time at a football game in the 30 years I have lived in the United States,” said Ho. “I was so excited to come and now even more happy and thankful that I got surprised by my son. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I turned around! Thank you [Red Cross] for bringing my son home.”
Sr. Airman Aaron Bach (left) with his mother and brother on the sidelines of the Armed Forces Bowl after an emotional reunion. (Alexis Gonzalez/American Red Cross)
Through every phase of duty, military service members and their families face a unique, sometimes daunting set of challenges—such as reaching a loved one stationed overseas in an emergency or combatting veteran isolation. From the first deployment to life after service, the Red Cross proudly provides a continuum of care, 24-hours-a-day, for those who serve and their loved ones.
“Aaron totally tricked us!” said David Bach, the Airman’s younger brother, “He made us believe he was still in Japan when we were on our way to the game, and I was telling him how we were going to see his video.”
“I’m so grateful you all [the Red Cross] were able to do this for us, especially for my mom. We treasure every moment we get to be together.”
The Navy Midshipmen may have won the game, 21-20, over Oklahoma, but it was Bach and his family who were the real winners. Their moving reunion demonstrated a heartfelt celebration of service, sacrifice and the unbreakable bonds of family gave special meaning to the Armed Forces Bowl’s nickname: The Bowl for the Brave.
“I'm not taking this opportunity for granted at all,” Bach said. “I'm just very appreciative of this moment because I know for a fact the candidate pool or the nominees were very broad, and I know there's a lot of deserving families out there to come back home. I haven't been in Japan for long, but I know people are definitely going through stuff out there as well. My exposure in the military has definitely changed everything.”
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