Reunion

Friday, April 19, 2013
Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

U.S. Air Force Captain Diane K. (Rempel) Chang and her daughter, Megan Pennock, hug after Capt. Chang surprised Megan during sophomore English class this morning at McCook, Nebraska, Senior High. The mother and daughter haven't seen each other since July 1, when Diane left for a deployment as a trauma nurse coordinator at Camp Bastion Hospital in Afghanistan. Megan told her mother through her tears, "I've missed you so much! I don't want to let you go!" Diane has been in the service for two years, joining as an officer and having 10 years experience as an emergency room nurse before joining the Air Force. "I'm shaking ... I thought I was dreaming," Megan said. School officials helped Capt. Chang arrange her meeting with Megan. "I thought it would be nice surprise," Capt. Chang said, smiling back at her daughter. "I like your hair," she said, brushing bangs across her daughter's forehead. Also in on the secret were Megan's brother, Andrew, 25, stationed with the Air Force at Nellis AFB in Nevada, and her sister, Shelby, 21, who lives in Portland, Oregon. Capt. Chang said she would be in McCook with Megan through the weekend, and then travel to Biloxi, Mississippi, where Megan will join her at the end of the school year. Capt. Chang returns to Afghanistan in 18 months.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette
Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette
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