Corporal Eamon Baldwin found out his wife was pregnant three weeks into his deployment to Iraq.
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On Thursday, his now-eight months pregnant wife, Kirralee, was waiting eagerly for his return at the Brisbane International Airport.
“I guess it was difficult, but I am not soft,” Mrs Baldwin said.
“You do what you gotta do.
“It would of been nice to tell him I was pregnant in person, but Skype did the trick.”
Corporal Baldwin is one of about 300 troops who have just completed a six-month deployment to Iraq.
The soon-to-be-father said he was thrilled to be home in time to witness the birth of his son in a few weeks.
“We are going to have a nice Christmas in Brissie and the family is coming up,” Corporal Baldwin said.
Corporal Baldwin and the other troops have been training parts of the Iraqi Army to ensure it was well postured to secure and stabilise areas cleared of the Islamic State.
The contingent formed part of Task Group Taji-7 and worked alongside members from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Czech Republic and Singapore at the Taji Military Complex located near Baghdad.
Private Benjamin Driver’s family breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the 22-year-old step back onto Australian soil.
“I could not be happier. I am so thankful that he is back home safe,” Private Driver’s mother Janell said.
“It was his first deployment and that was challenging for us. It really brought home how hard it would have been for parents and families during World War I and II with the communication back then.”
Private Driver’s sister, Jenna, had a special surprise waiting for her brother - his two-month-old niece Ruby.
“He hasn’t met Ruby yet and he doesn’t know we are coming. We drove from Hervey Bay to surprise him,” Jenna said.
Private Driver has been overseas for more than half the length of his relationship with girlfriend Emily.
"We just had to find a happy medium at the start then eventually we got into our own routines of trying to fill up the time difference," Private Driver said.
The couple are excited to relax and spend some quality time together over the holdiays.
Task Group Taji-7 trained more than 4500 Iraqi Army soldiers and also increased the ability of the Baghdad Fighting School, an Iraqi Army training institution, to deliver its own training.
