Soldier in Iraq watches his wife graduate UT nursing school via web cam
Soldier in Iraq watches his wife graduate UT nursing school via web cam Save Email Print
Posted: 6:36 PM Dec 12, 2008
Last Updated: 4:45 AM Dec 15, 2008
Reporter: Stephen McLamb
Email Address: Stephen.McLamb@wvlt-tv.com


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They may be over 65 hundred miles apart.

It's daytime here, and nighttime there.

But today, a Knoxville man got to see a proud moment for his wife, her graduation.

Thanks to the Internet and a notebook web cam, Sgt. James Caldwell gave his wife the thumbs up after she walked across the stage.

Much like marriage, then children, so too is the special time that comes with college graduation.

But for Courtney Caldwell, her husband couldn't be present because he's serving in Iraq or could he?

"Everybody says Hi, babe!," says UT nursing graduate Courtney Caldwell.

Courtney used her skills as an electronics technician in the Navy to make sure he got to see it all via the web.

"When graduation was looming and I knew he wasn't going to be here, I just well, I could take the computer over there. There's wireless," says Caldwell.

Sgt. James Caldwell was home up to six months ago, and Courtney wanted to make sure he didn't miss her big day.

Courtney says, "He did a lot of the cooking and cleaning while he was over here while I was studying late hours."

"She's been doing a good job taking care of my daughters. She's been working real hard and finally it's paid off. It's good to see that. Very proud of you," says Sgt. James Caldwell.

The pride was evident as Courtney made her way across the stage after four hard years of studying and a husband thousands of miles away who gave her the thumbs up via a web cam.

"It was awesome. I was practically there," says James.

Courtney waved goodbye as she left with the rest of her classmates. James wasn't there physically, but for Courtney, technology is the next best thing.

"It's different but I'm just excited and glad that he got to watch and that's all I really care about," says Courtney.

Of course, both Courtney and her husband say it will be better when they get to be together again when he gets a leave in early 2009.

Courtney, meanwhile, says she's hoping to eventually go back to active duty navy later and practice nursing.

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