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Sheppard selects Family of the Year

  • Published
  • By John Ingle
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Staff Sgt. Philip Baham III and his 9-year-old son, Kade, stood on a stage in the Wichita Falls Multi-Purpose Events Center Oct. 29. The pair received accolades from 82nd Training Wing Commander Brig. Gen. O.G. Mannon and guests during Sheppard's annual recognition of the base's Family of the Year.

Something -- or someone -- was missing, though. As he accepted the honor, Sergeant Baham said his thoughts were with his wife, Tech. Sgt. Harmony Baham 82nd Medical Group, as she is serving in Afghanistan.

"We were thankful for it," the sergeant said of the award. "But it would've been nice to have the whole family here to accept it."

The Family of the Year honor recognizes Sheppard families who make significant contributions as members of the Air Force and their local communities.

Sergeant Baham said he doesn't feel his family did anything special to garner such an award. He said his family has always been involved in their community and supports the mission of the Air Force when called upon.

He said any one of the other families nominated deserved the award.
The sergeant said all military families make sacrifices, but the Bahams use their volunteer efforts as quality family time.

"It's just a way of life," Sergeant Baham said. "If there wasn't a family of the year, we'd be out doing the same thing."

Although he wasn't able to share the honor with his wife initially, Sergeant Baham said he set his alarm for 2:30. that morning so he could send an e-mail to his wife to inform her of their family's accomplishment.

Sergeant Baham said he and his wife are passing on their sense of community to their sons -- Kade and 3-year-old Beaux.
He said they take their sons to different projects so they can learn how to give back to the community.

"It's not so much about you, you, you," he said he teaches his sons. "It's about making the pie better."

It didn't take Sergeant Baham long to get started on next year's honor, although that isn't what he's after. He was back at it Oct. 30, coaching a little league team in Burkburnett, Texas, and then giving a speech at the Boys and Girls Club about not being a bully.

Several other families were also recognized during the military appreciation dinner, they include Lt. Col. Patrick Testerman and family, 89th Flying Training Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Edward O'Leary and family, 381st TRS; Staff Sgt. Justin Dahlmann and family, 365th TRS; Tech. Sgts. Jon and Jacqueline Baumeyer and family, 82nd Security Forces Squadron and 82nd Training Wing, respectively; Master Sgt. Michael Brown and family, 82nd Force Support Squadron; and Tech. Sgt. Richard Spring and family, 365th TRS.