Soldier takes ten flights to make it home in time for birth of daughter

Call that dedication.

A sergeant in the US army, Francois Clerfe, travelled 8,000 miles in just two days to make it to his daughter's birth. 

Clerfe was granted permission to return home to be with his wife, Natalia Svistunova, on the big day, but it turns out being granted leave was the easy part. 

Two days, seven planes and ten flight later, Clerfe made it just in time to welcome his daughter into the world. 

His round about trip took him from his station in Iraq through Kuwait, Turkey, Frankfurt, Baltimore and Atlanta, before he finally landed in his hometown of Monterey, California. 

To make the birth even more special, little Julia was also the hospital's first baby of 2018! 

Speaking to local media, Clerfe said that “It was fun and exciting at the same time, you know the thrill of thinking the 'what-ifs." 

Time was especially of the essence, as baby Julia was eight days early.

“I'm glad that baby Julia waited for me,” he said. 

 “I had the feeling that he would make it because he really wanted to be here, next to us.” Svistunova added.