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Two Urbana High School grads serving together in Cuba

Randy Dunham and Nate Williams first meet at the airport at Guatanamo Bay.

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By Matt Sanctis, Staff Writer 8:00 PM Saturday, March 13, 2010

URBANA — Randy Dunham and Nate Williams graduated from the same high school, both serve in the military and they know many of the same people. But the first time they met was at an airport at Guantanamo Bay.

Dunham, a senior enlisted adviser in public affairs with the Air Force National Guard, arrived at the sprawling military base on Jan. 23 to begin serving a four-month tour of duty, his last before retirement.

As Dunham chatted briefly with others at the airport, he mentioned he was from Ohio.

Williams, who graduated from Urbana High School in 1997, was standing nearby, and they struck up a conversation. Williams, a joint personnel center operations officer, has served in the military for several years, but had never met anyone else from Urbana during his time in the military.

“It was pretty incredible the number of people we both know in Urbana without actually having met,” Williams said.

While stationed in Cuba, the men have different assignments. Dunham, a 1978 Urbana High School graduate, is in charge of media relations, as well as print and broadcast efforts at the base. At the joint personnel center, Williams is tasked with keeping track of military members stationed at the base, making sure their leave is counted correctly, making sure their flights in and out of the base are correct, and more.

Despite the long hours, Dunham said the wide range of duties helps the time pass quickly. A typical day begins at 6:30 a.m. and may not end until 7 p.m.

“The hours are long, but the work isn’t as tedious as I thought it would be,” Dunham said.

In addition, he said, there are plenty of options available for service members on their down time. The base includes a sports complex with volleyball courts, baseball and softball fields, a bowling alley, soccer fields and a track. Since the weather is almost always sunny and warm, Dunham said service members also fish, play golf and snorkel.

“We work really hard, but we play really hard,” he said.

Dunham added some people may have misconceptions about the detention center as well. He said prisoners who are being held at the base are always treated humanely.

Williams said the soldiers who are responsible for their care take that responsibility seriously.

“It’s very humbling to serve beside brothers and sisters that are so dedicated in whatever they are assigned to do,” Williams said.

Both are expected to return home on May 22. For Dunham this will be his last job in the Ohio Air National Guard. When he gets home, he said his plans are fairly simple. He’ll watch his children play sports and go camping with his family.

For Williams, it will be a chance to see his new baby girl, Kinsley. He was granted leave so he could be home for her birth, but Williams said he’s only seen his daughter for six days. She is his third child.

While both men live in the same housing complex, their work schedules mean they don’t get to see each other all that often. Sometimes they see each other in the dining complex, and occasionally during an early morning run.

But since both have mutual friends in Urbana, they said it won’t be tough to keep in touch once they return home.

“It’s nice to have that connection,” Williams said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.

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