Distance couldn’t stop first sergeant from seeing daughter born

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Emily F. Alley
  • 442d Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AFB, Mo. --  Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Youkey has not starred in a film, but in real life he almost lives the plot of a romantic comedy.

Youkey, first sergeant for the 442d Fighter Wing's Force Support Squadron, has been on loan to Air Force Reserve Command Headquarters at Robins AFB, Ga. since late June. He had not seen his wife, or their three children, in almost four months and was not planning to see them until he took leave for the birth of his fourth child, scheduled for October 21.
 
The week before that, however, he got a call from his wife.

"She called me at 10:30 in the morning and said 'I'm going into labor,'" recalled Youkey.

Youkey told his supervising chief master sergeant that he would need to start his leave early- and that he would need a ride to the airport. Youkey briefed the chief, who would be filling in as his replacement during leave, and made calls to reschedule his flight during the drive. The airline did not even charge him to change the dates when he told them why he needed a different flight.

"As we were taxiing in the pilot announced over the intercom that the Royals were going to the World Series," said Youkey. "Everyone was cheering."

The Royals had just won their last American League Champion Series game.  As he left the airport, however, Youkey found the traffic was overwhelming due to the baseball game. He took calls from his wife, telling him to hurry, and he even tried to take detours. He finally made it to the hospital just under four hours before his daughter was born.

"It was pretty cool when he walked in," his wife, Christina Youkey, recalled. "All three kids jumped up and yelled, 'Daddy!' and the two boys didn't even know he was coming."

At the time, though, she did not notice. She had other things on her mind.

"I was hoping he would make it," said Christina Youkey. "But the pain was too much. I was just trying to have the baby."

"She did everything naturally," added Matthew Youkey.

"When the chaos stopped he came over and gave me a kiss. He was still in his ABUs."

When their three kids were asked who they were happier to have at home- their new little sister, or their dad- they agreed they liked having both.