A new airman experienced two huge life events at the same time when he met his newborn son for the first time who tapped him out at his graduation.
For Timothy Cadle, 21, from San Antonio, Texas, and wife, Claudia, also 21, his basic training had been extremely tough for them both as Timothy left when Claudia was 37 weeks pregnant.
The pair had no contact when their son was born, Claudia said, and over the weeks that followed, Claudia admitted she found it tough to navigate motherhood without her husband by her side.
That all changed, however, on March 12, the day of Timothy’s United States Air Force graduation, when an excited Claudia made her way through the crowd at the end of the coin ceremony.
Having found her husband in the first row, the new mom – along with their baby son Odyn – tapped Timothy out, before he shared a hug with his son for the first time.
Claudia said: “My husband shipped off for basic training when I was 37 weeks pregnant.
“I had no contact with him when our son was born.
“It was very hard to navigate motherhood while waiting for my husband who was on the other side of the country.
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“It was a rollercoaster of emotions.
“Those two months without him were some of the hardest times.
“I was relieved it was over, excited to finally see him again, and just in shock that we were there.
“I was over the moon.”
