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In Brief Homecoming, Soldier Meets New Family

John Campbell holds daughter Taryn during his brief visit home in Hinesville, Ga.
Andrea Hsu, NPR
John Campbell holds daughter Taryn during his brief visit home in Hinesville, Ga.
Paula Campbell holds Taryn's twin sister Taylor.
Andrea Hsu, NPR /
Paula Campbell holds Taryn's twin sister Taylor.

In January, 1st Sgt. John Campbell and his wife Paula were preparing for his deployment to Iraq -- and for the arrival of twins. A month ago, while John was in Bagdhad, daughters Taryn and Taylor were born. John recently returned for an all-too brief visit with his new family.

With his buzz cut and his swagger, John, a member of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, looks every bit the tough military man. But he seems to melt around his wife and his two small girls.

"I know I've got to leave in another three or four days and I want to get as much closeness as I can to them because they won't see me again for a while…" he says. "I do know that when I retire here soon, Daddy will be around a lot more."

For Paula, the separation and the responsibility of caring for the twins alone is "a little scary, it's a little overwhelming. But I've got it covered," she says. Having John meet the girls helped ease one of Paula's greatest fears -- "that they would never know what kind of father they had."

Sgt. Campbell returned to Iraq over the weekend. Until his tour of duty ends, friends and family will take turns helping Paula, Taryn and Taylor Campbell at their home in Georgia.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.