Broken Arrow Military Pilot Returns Home For Special Visit

By Jeffrey Smith, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- There was a happy reunion at Tulsa International Airport Tuesday morning.

An Oklahoma Army National Guard pilot serving in Iraq met his wife at the airport and then rushed to a Tulsa hospital to meet his new twin daughters for the first time.

The News On 6 first met Jay Henderson three weeks ago through a Skype interview. He's a helicopter pilot in Iraq. He's also the roommate of SKYNEWS 6 pilot Will Kavanagh. 

Henderson knew his wife was pregnant when he left for his second tour. Only later did he find out she was pregnant with twins. 

3/10/2010 Related story: Deployed Broken Arrow Pilot's Wife Is Expecting Twins

Henderson's wife, Jayme, gave birth last week.

Seven days later, Henderson rushed home for his two weeks of R & R.

"Last time when I came home on R & R, I proposed to her," said Jay Henderson, who is a Blackhawk Helicopter Pilot.

This time, it's about the new baby girls. After trading his military camo for hospital scrubs, Henderson first met baby Jenika. Then, he held her identical twin, Julliana.

Each baby weighs four pounds. The girls will be baptized on Easter Sunday. 

Jay's cousin, also a pilot, was shot down and killed in Iraq on Easter Sunday, six years ago.

"For my daughters to be baptized on Easter Sunday, six years later, means a lot. It's a pretty proud moment for so many different reasons," said Henderson.

After that, he says he just wants to stay home for as long as he possibly can.

"I love being a daddy, it's my favorite thing," said Henderson.

The Henderson's have two other kids, a 19-month-old boy and a three-year-old girl. 

Henderson will be home until the middle of April, then he's off to finish his tour in Iraq.