Families welcome home Marines, after spending eight months in Iraq
By: Valerie Boey

Tampa, Florida — As families prepare to welcome home their loved ones, wives like Danielle Finchum say it has been difficult without their husbands.

Danielle Finchum, Marine's Wife:
“I just missed my best friend, having someone to talk to, having someone to go through it with me.”

Danielle's husband Joseph was called to duty at an awkward time.

Danielle Finchum, Marine's Wife:
“He left two days after he found out I was pregnant and he's going to see his daughter for the first time today.”

Danielle says two month old Ansley Joy looks just like her daddy.

Danielle Finchum, Marine's Wife:
“She's been really fussy and I've been excited, so maybe that's why she's been fussing. She knows something's going on, I kept telling her, she's going to meet her dad.”

This is also going to be like a holiday for the Finchum family.

Danielle Finchum, Marine's Wife:
“I kept my Christmas tree up since December and all the presents are wrapped underneath for him so tonight's Christmas Eve, and were having Christmas tomorrow.”

19-year-old Danielle can't wait for Joseph to see his baby girl.

Danielle Finchum, Marine's Wife:
“If it's anything like my reaction he's just going to melt. It's going to be love at first sight.”

The moment she's been waiting for finally arrives.

LCPL Joseph Finchum:
“It's awesome something you can't you try to formulate in your mind what it's like. You get here and it totally amazes you.”

Joseph can't get over his beautiful baby girl.

LCPL Joseph Finchum:
“It's very difficult to be away from the ones you love, overall we've got a job to do we got it done get home and now we get to enjoy it.”
Danielle Finchum, Marine's Wife:
“I thank God that he's home and safe and doesn't ever have to leave me again.”

Danielle says she'd hold up a picture of Joseph and play his messages on an answering machine for the baby, so she'd learn about her father while he was in Iraq.

Valerie Boey, Tampa Bay's 10 News
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http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=29750