MACHIAS – The baby’s first cry traveled halfway across the world.
It all started when the phone rang at Bob and Patti Whipple’s home in Machias around 9:30 a.m. Aug. 4.
Patti picked it up. It was their son, Marine Cpl. Ian Whipple, stationed near the Iraqi-Syrian border.
The 25-year-old Marine wanted to say happy birthday to his father. He was in for a surprise.
Patti told Ian that his wife, Jenee, was at Providence Everett Medical Center on Pacific Avenue in Everett. She was getting ready to give a birth to their first baby.
Ian became silent.
“Oh,” he uttered.
Bob and Patti had to drive to the hospital. Ian said he would try to call back later.
He couldn’t promise. The Marine is allowed about 20 minutes every week to make calls.
About 30 minutes later, Jenee’s cell phone rang. Ian called to make sure she was OK. They said, “I love you” to each other.
A few minutes later, Ian had to go.
Then a doctor broke Jenee’s water.
The third call from Ian came to Bob’s cell phone around 11 a.m.
This time, Ian said that his superiors allowed him to use an office phone and that he could stay on the line for a few hours.
Patti stayed in the delivery room and updated Bob in the hallway.
Bob kept telling Ian that everything was going well.
At 1:43 p.m., the baby arrived. Wyatt Whipple was born on his grandfather’s birthday. The baby has his father’s wavy brown hair and cleft chin.
Patti stepped outside the room and grabbed the phone from Bob. She held it over the baby.
Then, the baby cried for the first time, clear and strong into Ian’s ears.
Patti handed the phone to Bob.
“Congratulations, Dad. Thanks for the great birthday present,” Bob said to Ian.
“You are welcome,” Ian said.
The phone was passed to Jenee. She told her husband that she and the baby were doing fine.
“It wasn’t that bad. We can do it again,” Jenee said.
“Not right now,” Ian said.
The two laughed.
Ian is expected to hold his baby for the first time in early October when he comes home.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
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