Trip to commissary leads to new motorcycle

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez
  • 35th Fighter Wing public affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  For one Misawa Airman, one ordinary trip to the commissary lead to one lucky day.

Senior Airman Nicole Harbin, 301st Intelligence Squadron, was the lucky winner of a brand new Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Low.

The bike was given away as part of a promotion between the Defense Commissary Agency, Dr. Pepper, and Cadbury Schweppes. A stateside grand prize winner and an overseas grand prize winner were selected.

"We walked into the commissary and my husband had just got done telling me how we wanted a motorcycle," said Airman Harbin. "I looked to the right and saw the entry box."

Her husband, Staff Sgt. Michael Harbin, didn't want to put his name in because he said nobody ever wins those contests. Since her husband wouldn't put in his name, Airman Harbin put in hers.

"I literally never put my name in for anything," she said. "But the next thing I know, they were calling me to tell me I won."

It was 11 p.m. when Airman Harbin got the call that she won. She was on the other line with her Mom when the call came in. The caller on the other line told her she was the Asia-Pacific winner of a Harley Davidson.

"I thought he was crazy," she recounted. I had to make sure it was real."

After confirming that this wasn't a prank, she switched back to the other phone line and told her mom, she just won a Harley. Airman Harbin's father owns a Harley and his mom often would ride on the back.

"She was all excited and jumping around," said Airman Harbin of her mother. "I could hear my dad in the background asking all kinds of questions. He wanted to know all the details and what kind of bike I won."

Airman Harbin, not a motorcycle rider herself, decided to give the bike to her husband.

"I told him 'Happy anniversary, happy birthday and merry Christmas,'" she said.

"I'm psyched," said Sergeant Harbin. "I used to have a Suzuki Katana. I've been wanting to get back on a bike. I think it will be great."

Sergeant Harbin will have to wait a little while longer to ride his new bike. The Harbin's are due to PCS to Hawaii in November. They will pick up the bike stateside while in route to their new location. Once they arrive in Hawaii, Airman Harbin says she plans to get her motorcycle license so that she can enjoy her winnings.

"I'm no different than anyone else that walks into the commissary," Airman Harbin said. "I happened to be in the right place at the right time."