TACOMA, Wash. -- Andrew Ranson is a Marine stationed in Iraq. He left behind his pregnant wife in Tacoma.

Some 8,000 miles and a call of duty separate them, but Ranson was able to see his daughter come into the world.

The dad in the war zone was connected to the mom in the maternity ward via video conferencing. And Ranson saw the birth of Cadence Abigail at 6:08 p.m. Wednesday night. That's 4:08 a.m. Iraq time.

Ranson's wife, like many military wives, had to give birth while her husband was way. But the link virtually placed Ranson in the delivery room.

"I had him on the computer on one side saying, 'You can do it.' And I had my sister and mom in the room with me," Knox said.

"It's outstanding," said Ranson. "I don't know what words to use, but it's definitely a lot better than handwriting letters and waiting for videotapes to arrive in the mail."

Ranson was stationed in Iraq just a couple of months ago with Bravo Company, 4th tank battalion. He is due home at the end of the year, and coming home for his daughter's birth was out of the question.

"She's beautiful. I can't wait to hold her when I get home. It's remarkable," said Ranson. "I just wish I was there in person."

The satellite uplink was made possible by the Freedom Calls Foundation.

Birthing video conferencing is a relatively new service, partly because it took some doing to make sure the computer setup doesn't interfere with the medical staff or breach the tight confidentiality requirements in hospitals.

Video conference over, Ranson headed back to Operation Iraqi Freedom as Knox began Operation Cadence Abigail.