Military family members reunite in Djibouti

November 15, 2006
By Army Spc. Eric P. Jungels Jr.
Central Command Public Affairs.

DOHA, Qatar – The senior enlisted leader for U.S. Central Command’s reserve forces recently returned here from Djibouti after a visit in which she assisted fellow troops, including one special service member.

Sgt. Maj. Judith M. Harford, acting command sergeant major for USCENTCOM Forward Headquarters met up with her brother, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Samuel R. Husner, a hospital corpsman with the 5th Provisional Security Company deployed to Djibouti, Africa.

Army Sgt. Maj. Judith M. Harford, acting command sergeant major for U.S. Central Command Forward Headquarters, poses for a photo next to her brother, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Samuel R. Husner, a hospital corpsman with the 5th Provisional Security Company, in Djibouti, Africa. The two were able to catch up while Harford was visiting troops from the 5th PSC and other reserve servicemembers in the region. USN Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Eric A. Clement.

The two were able to catch up while Harford was visiting troops from the 5th PSC and other reserve troops serving in the Horn of Africa alongside of Command Chief Master Sgt. Curtis L. Brownhill, CENTCOM’s highest ranking enlisted leader.

“My job is to help Soldiers focus on their tasks by helping take care of other issues,” said Harford, whose goal for the trip was to get to know the reserve Soldiers and work out any administrative or personal issues they had. Seeing her brother, she said, was quite a bonus.

“We haven’t seen each other a lot in the last few years,” said Harford, who has worked in an active guard reserve capacity with CENTCOM for the last three years.

Between deployments and overseas assignments, Harford said, she and her brother have been very busy, actively serving and supporting the recent Global War on Terror.

The two, who according to Husner, have not seen each other in at least two years, were able to meet up, have a couple drinks, and even see a movie.

“Seems like the only time I see her is overseas some place!” said Husner, who joined the Marines as a reservist during Operation Desert Storm.

As Harford puts it, they are two siblings from a “true joint family.” Harford and Husner’s father is a former Marine and they have a brother who also served in the Air Force.

Husner, who is a social worker when he’s not deployed, has been in Djibouti since September. The Marines he works with provide base security, conduct patrols, and work with villagers to keep the area safe and free of terrorist activity.

“I’m proud of him,” said Harford, of her brother. “He’s 52 years old—working with the Marines and going on patrols with them.”

“I got to watch him work,” said Harford. “He’s well trained in medical care and even field surgery—if I had any medical concerns, I would go to him.”