Deployed soldier reunites with father at Christmas Day Thunder game

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The Paycom Center was full of holiday cheer during the game on Thursday vs. the San Antonio Spurs, and one father even got an unexpected surprise.

Amid the excitement, families with loved ones who are deployed heard messages from them on the big screen.

Among them was Juba Allen, a father who didn’t think his son, Sgt. Anthony Ackah-Mensah would be coming home for the holidays until the Oklahoma City Thunder helped bring them together for a surprise after the first quarter of the game.

“It was pretty amazing. It was just crazy. I wasn’t expecting all of that,” Allen said after seeing his son emerge from the crowd.

“This was like a rare opportunity. A lot of people don’t get to see their family for years,” said Sgt. Ackah-Mensah after the reunion.

Allen expressed his gratitude, saying, “It’s important to me. It’s family time, Christmas time, the holidays, everybody was excited to see this going on.”

His son is happy to be home for the holidays, and this is a memory neither will soon forget.

“Just wishing everybody a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, and go Thunder,” said Allen.

“I want to say to all my guardsmen, thank you, guys, for your service,” added Sgt. Ackah-Mensah.

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