KLTV 7 News Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville |Soldier gets home just in time to see triplets birth

Soldier gets home just in time to see triplets birth

A big delivery for an East Texas couple who are blessed with the birth's of their first children. A weary soldier hastily made it home in time to be with his wife, and as KLTV 7's Bob Hallmark tells us, to see the birth of triplets.

Army Staff Sergeant Richard Napier rushed home from Afghanistan last week to be with his wife Margaret for the birth on their triplets at Good Shepherd Medical Center on Tuesday.

And today was their first chance to hold son Pierce, and daughters Addison and Kinzley.

"I was about 19 weeks pregnant when he deployed and we just had them at 31 weeks," said Margaret Napier.

Margaret was worried Richard might not make it home in time.

"I figured he would probably be home about 3 weeks after they were born," said Richard.

Seeing his children , Napier feels a sense of what he's protecting.

"Just, wow. Of course now, it's what you based everything on that you're fighting for anyway," said Richard.

Though Richard will have to return to his unit, he won't forget this leave.

"Go big or go home!"

The triplets are expected to stay in the hospital for another 4 weeks or so.

Staff Sergeant Napier is scheduled to go back to Afghanistan October 14th, but is trying to get an extension on his leave.

Bob Hallmark, reporting. bhallmark@kltv.com