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A Defender's family reunion

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Ruby Zarzyczny
  • 380 AEW Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The night before Thanksgiving, Staff Sgt. Malik Calhoun, 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, K-9 handler, finished playing his last flag football game and hurried over to the Phantom Center just before midnight. There, a new team of Defenders who had just arrived to the base were in-processing, and there Sergeant Calhoun saw his little brother Airman 1st Class Dandre Bufford for the first time in more than two years.

The reunion was a surprise for Airman Bufford who deployed from the 52nd Security Forces Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany and arrived here Nov. 21.

"I was in the Phantom Center when the commander asked if anyone had a brother named Sergeant Calhoun," said Airman Bufford. "That was me. Then I saw my brother. I thought maybe he was here visiting from another base, and I was happy to see him. Then he told me he was deployed here too. I was shocked to have my brother here with me during my deployment."

After the brother's reunion, Airman Bufford called home to talk to his mother.

"That phone call was an epic moment for our family," said Sergeant Calhoun.

"I called home and my brother told me to tell our Mom that my supervisor wanted to talk to her," said Airman Bufford. "My brother got on the phone and started talking like he was my supervisor for a few seconds. And then he said, 'hello Mom.'" 

"She just started crying tears of joy," he continued. "She was crying so hard that she had to try and catch her breathe for about five minutes because she was so happy that we were together."

Although they have only been together for a few days, the reminiscing has already started with the brothers as they remember their past together.

"I remember my brother always buying me shoes," said Airman Bufford. "One time when he was home on leave, I remember really wanting some Black and Red Jordan, and he got them for me."

Now Airman Bufford is walking in his brother shoes. Deployed from the 31st Security Forces Squadron, Aviano, Italy, Sergeant Calhoun joined the Air Force in 2000 to become a dog handler, and that is how he became a Defender. His little brother followed in his footsteps and became a Defender too.

"When I was coming up, people would say to me 'your brother's a cop, and he let you be a cop?'" said Airman Bufford. "Yes, and at my two year mark, I'm going to be a dog handler too."

Airman Bufford joined the Air Force in March of 2007. He finished basic training and security forces technical training, and moved to Spangdahlem AB, Germany, where he was stationed in September 2007. By October, he was in additional regional security forces training, and on his way to Southwest Asia. This is his first deployment, and it is also his brother's first deployment.

"I'm so happy to be deployed with my brother," said Airman Bufford. "I haven't seen him since July 12, 2005, when we were at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz."

"I love it!" said Sergeant Calhoun. "We're reunited. Being together will help the time go by faster for both of us. It will also take a lot of stress and strain off our mother now that she knows we're together and safe."

Sergeant Calhoun left his home in Cleveland, Ohio, in January 2000 to join the Air Force - his little brother was only eight years old. While they are together, he plans to mentor his brother and hopes that he will take advantage of the educational opportunities available here by taking some CLEP tests.

"I just want to hang out with my brother as much as possible and make the best of the situation," said Sergeant Calhoun. "When I left home in 2000, he was by far the hardest person to say good-bye to because I knew I was leaving at a crucial age in his life. He would be subject to inter-city Cleveland alone during his teenage years."

While Airman Bufford was growing up his brother could only help him from a distance, and now that they are together Sergeant Calhoun plans to mentor his brother, and show him the ropes, and be a proper example for him.

Today was the first time Sergeant Calhoun saw his sibling on duty.

"It felt strange to see my little brother armed up," said Sergeant Calhoun. "I saw him in uniform when he came in, but it was weird to see him as a Defender with a weapon and gear."

They will be together here until February 2008. They work the same shift, but have different rotating days off. Once Airman Bufford can go off base, Sergeant Calhoun plans to take him downtown to show him around and take him out to dinner.

They didn't get to eat Thanksgiving dinner together, but they did spend some time together at the Thanksgiving Day Bazaar.

"We hope to be able to eat Christmas dinner together," said Sergeant Calhoun. "Celebrate the New Year at the Thirsty Camel, and watch the Ohio State and hopefully National Championships--Go Bucks!"