Brothers in arms cross paths in Afghanistan

Published July 31, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Senior Airman Matthew Delgado, 21, made one last trip back home before deploying in May. He was set to deploy to Bagram, Afghanistan, and didn't expect to see his family for four months. Half-way into his deployment rotation, he was surprised when someone knocked on his dorm room door and told him his brother was waiting for him at the PX here.

Army Private First Class Jerin Delgado, 26, arrived at Bagram Air Field July 18 with his unit, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry, as they transitioned to a forward operating base in the region. The two brothers, from Cedar Hill, Texas, were able to spend a few days together catching up.

"Of all places to run into your family -- on the other side of the world in Afghanistan -- how often does that happen?" said Airman Delgado. "I felt a little closer to home when my brother came."

Airman Delgado is deployed to the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron here. Even though he is scheduled to deploy to Iraq in 2009, he volunteered for this deployment.

"I wanted to do my part in the war against terror. I deployed here to (provide) Force Protection," said Airman Delgado, who performs F-16 maintenance inspections at his home station, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. "I feel my mission is very important over here. We are the first line of defense for this base."

Private Delgado is a combat medic, providing care to injured soldiers on the front lines. Despite his brother's dangerous job, Airman Delgado said he doesn't worry too much.

"We both try not to think about it, because that makes things worse," he said. "I know my brother knows his job very well and I think that he will be fine."

Likewise, Private Delgado believes his brother can hold his own.

"I've taught him some Army things, so if anything happened I know he could handle it," he said.

Along with being brothers in different armed services, comes some rivalry.

"Oh well you know, all the normal older brother younger brother rivalry," said Airman Delgado. "I think it is standard across the board. Of course Army and Air Force - we all know of the rivalry there - but it is all in fun."

Rivalry aside, the Delgado brothers said they both signed up to serve their country - and that's what they are doing here with the added perk of serving together.