Three Sailors and one Marine aboard amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) participated in a family video teleconference (VTC) in the ship's flag conference room Aug. 9.

Lt. Nathan Richard, Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Johnathan Perkins, Fireman Terrance Thigpen, and Marine Capt. Mark Chapman each had 15 minutes to speak with their families. Richard and Thigpen were able to see their newborn children for the first time.

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"The VTC offers our deployed Sailors the opportunity to interact with their loved ones following major events in their lives," said Lt. Andrew Young, a Navy chaplain assigned to Wasp. "We are able to allow our service members to meet their newborn children for the very first time in this live video feed, or to see their spouse just days before they give birth to their child. Our Sailors sacrifice so much serving our nation and unfortunately miss some of the most important moments in their families' lives. With the VTC, we can give them an opportunity to feel, if only for 15 minutes, like they are home enjoying this event."

"It's a complete joy and a blessing to be able to see my wife and son," Richard said. "It's unfortunate that the time didn't work out so I could be there, but I am extremely grateful for those that helped to set this up for us."

"I'm excited and nervous, and the anticipation for him to get here is crazy," Perkins said. "I hope that he likes baseball!"

"Advancements in technology have given the military the ability to VTC with family and friends from huge distances," said Master Chief Information Systems Technician Craig Harris, senior enlisted leader for Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 6. "The driving force behind a Sailor or Marine's performance is directly affected by the opportunity to speak with and remain in contact with their loved ones."

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Both Richard and Thigpen saw their newborn children for the very first time. Perkins and his wife are expecting to have their first child any day now, and Chapman surprised his family with a promotion from chief warrant officer to captain.

With many more major events and newborns on the way, VTC aboard Wasp is set to make a positive impact on the lives of service members and their families for the remainder of deployment.

The live feed was sent from the ship to Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic headquarters in Norfolk.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more information about USS Wasp (LHD 1), visit http://www.navy.mil/local/lhd1 or https://www.facebook.com/ussWasp/.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.