Technology Keeps Daddy Close To Home

A Tulsa first responder is answering the call to duty, far from home on Monday night. Instead of racing to emergencies on the streets of Tulsa, he's providing first aid on the frontlines in Iraq. But, his service is quite the sacrifice for his family. As The News On 6's Ashli Sims reports, they're using a high-tech tool on the Homefront to bridge the distance.

It's a family that's used to dealing with emergencies. But, one medic has traded Green Country for the Green Zone in Baghdad. And now a computer is their lifeline.

An electronic eye, a few keystrokes and Daddy appears, even though he's half-way across the world.

The kids gathered around the computer has become a nightly ritual at the Dent household, since Daddy is Sergeant Chris Dent.

He's a medic with the Army National Guard stationed in Baghdad.

"It is. You know they say the army wife is the hardest job in the army. And I believe it now," said Sheri Dent, Sergeant Chris Dent's wife.

Sheri is a woman who's used to dealing with crisis on a daily basis. She, like her soldier husband, is an EMSA paramedic. In fact, they met on the job.

Chris Dent was in the Army National Guard before they were married. After a brief hiatus, when the couple's daughter was born, he re-signed and was placed on active duty in May of 2007.

He's been gone for most of the last year, first in training, then in Baghdad. This left Sheri to man the Homefront with their four children.

"It is very tough for me. I have no family here whatsoever. My work family is it. I couldn't ask for a better group of people to work with," said Sheri.

Sheri and Chris say the web chats help. They talk about the weather and just catch up, but mostly it's just being able to see each other's smile so she knows he's ok.

"I get a phone call at the same time every day too, so that helps. Now, when I don't get that phone call or their connection is down on the Internet, then I worry a little bit," said Sheri.

For now, this soldier is just Daddy and through the grainy, sometimes delayed images on the screen, their family is whole once again.

Sergeant Dent is working in an emergency room in Baghdad. He's not just helping U.S. troops, but Iraqi detainees.

Sheri Dent says he treats it as if he was working here. He doesn't look at background or agenda; he simply has a job to do, help save their life.