ASC Member and family enjoy surprise reunion at Dayton Dragons game

  • Published
  • By Chris McGee
  • Aeronautical Systems Center
DAYTON, Ohio --  Filled with anticipation and excitement, Kim Thigpen and her two sons - Jacob, 11, and Caleb, 5 - walked onto the field in front of nearly 9,000 Dayton Dragon fans at Fifth Third Field Sunday night after the second inning of the team's baseball game with the South Bend Silver Hawks.

The drizzle that had fallen earlier couldn't dampen the giddiness the three felt at the opportunity they would soon have to speak via satellite transmission with their deployed husband and father, Capt Jim Thigpen, broadcasting from 'somewhere in the Middle East,' as the Dragons' PA announcer explained.

The image of Capt Thigpen, a member of Aeronautical Systems Center's 726th Aeronautical Systems Group, which manages the B-2 stealth bomber, registered on the large video screen behind the outfield fence. Just after Capt. Thigpen exchanged an opening hello with his family, the video feed seemed to fail, to the collective groans of the crowd.

As Mrs. Thigpen hung her head in frustration and a matter of seconds passed, a thundering roar rose from the stands, prompting her to turn and identify the source of the sudden deafening cheer. It was her husband, Capt Thigpen, emerging from the first base dugout and running to her, a bouquet of flowers in hand.

Capt. Thigpen gathered his wife and children in a long, heartfelt embrace. The crowd roared its surprise and approval. Numerous eyes shed tears of joy, and cameras flashed as the crowd and family comprehended the happy surprise that was unfolding.

Unbeknownst to Capt. Thigpen's wife and sons, the Dayton Dragons, Dayton Development Coalition and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base had orchestrated a plan to keep Capt. Thigpen's return from deployment a surprise so they could reunite him with his family at the game as part of the ball club's ongoing Hometown Heroes program, which honors Air Force men and women deployed overseas from the base and supports their families.

The plan proved a success, although Capt. Thigpen, who recently returned from Iraq, couldn't wait for the evening to arrive.

" Honestly, I thought the moment would never come because so many things had to work out right," Capt Thigpen said. "Once I arrived in Dayton, time seemed to stand still, and it was so tempting to just call my wife. All I wanted to do was be with my family."

Whatever agony, impatience or nervousness Capt Thigpen felt proved to be worth the wait when he darted onto the field.

"The positive energy was simply overwhelming; I was so excited and nervous," Capt Thigpen said. "The crowd was absolutely incredible, and to finally see my family face to face was, hands down, one of the happiest moments of my life."

According to Mrs. Thigpen, the frustration and disappointment she initially felt at the 'failure' of the satellite broadcast quickly receded when she saw the surprise unfold.

"The only thing that was going through my mind when the feed died was 'I'm not going to cry in front of all these people,'" Mrs. Thigpen said. "When I saw him on the screen, I don't even remember hearing the crowd cheer. All I wanted to do was touch him and make sure it was real."

Being reunited with a spouse and parent returning from deployment is special enough. But experiencing such a moment as a surprise in front of thousands of baseball fans added a special touch that left the crowd buzzing for a long time after the event.

"I still cannot begin to put into words what it means not only to have him home but to be reunited in that way is definitely something we will never forget," Mrs. Thigpen said. "My kids are huge baseball fans, and to see their dad on the field for the first time was, as they would say, 'very cool.'"

Capt. Thigpen expressed his gratitude to the Dayton Dragons for creating not only what was for his family a night they will never forget, but for supporting military members and their families in general.

"In my opinion, the Dayton Dragons are the real heroes in this story," Capt. Thigpen said. "They choose to use their influence to support the military and their families, and that speaks volumes."

Capt. Thigpen returned from a four-month deployment to Iraq, where he served in contracting as the construction flight commander. It was his second tour of duty in Iraq and fourth in the Middle East.