Airman First Class Timothy Pledger’s first flight out to deploy to Guam for six months was delayed, so he was able to spend a few more hours with his wife, who was due to have their child “any day.”  His daughter decided to make her arrival at that moment, so Pledger had to help:

So Pledger returned home to be with his pregnant wife…Around 9 a.m., his wife’s water broke…

“The baby was already coming out. I called [emergency services] so they could give me step-by-step instructions on how to deliver the baby…”

After applying what the emergency personnel told him, a few minutes later his daughter was completely out and breathing normally.

A few hours later, Pledger got on an airplane and left for six months: 

“This is a testament to airmen…,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Anthony Grubb, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron first sergeant. “To deliver his own daughter…and not even 12 hours later…get on a jet to support the mission says a lot about the great airmen we have here. Family is important, and so is the mission, and Pledger was able to successfully support both.”

His wife may have a slightly different opinion, but it is an interesting story on the impact of military service on the family.

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