A U.S. Marine from Wyoming County made an unexpected and special trip home to meet his newborn twin sons, born 12 weeks early. 

Daniel Cooley of Perry is based out of Camp Pendleton in California, but is currently stationed in Iraq.

He spoke with his wife Michaela by phone on what had seemed like a normal Wednesday, until he started getting messages later that day she was in the hospital.

By Friday, their sons Theodore and Benjamin arrived by C-Section, roughly three months early, with the new dad on the other side of the world.

Daniel learned he would be a dad just before he was deployed in July.

The boys currently weigh about two pounds each.

The Cooleys are staying at the Ronald McDonald House for now.

Michaela says the twins arrived before her planned baby shower which, naturally, needs to be rescheduled.

Cooley says he expects to be deployed back to Iraq in a few weeks.