Air Force, Army doctors delivery SAMMC's first baby of new year Published Jan. 9, 2013 By Elaine Sanchez BAMC Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- He was due on Christmas Eve, but held out for an equally festive occasion: New Year's Day. A few hours after the ball dropped in Times Square, Anthony James Smithey, nicknamed AJ, joined the party at 3:50 a.m., marking San Antonio Military Medical Center's first delivery of 2013. "I think he held out for New Year's so he'd have a bigger birthday party later on," joked his proud father, Juston Smithey. AJ's mom, Dorene Smithey, had arrived at SAMMC's Labor, Delivery and Recovery ward early Dec. 31 for a scheduled induction of labor. A day later, Air Force Capt. (Dr.) Neil Phippen and Army Capt. (Dr.) Lindsey Bannon delivered the 7-pound, 9.79-ounce baby via cesarean section. "Although a cesarean section was not the initial planned route of delivery for Mrs. Smithey, the Labor and Delivery and Pediatric teams were all very grateful to serve the Smithey family during their entire labor and delivery process to provide an excellent outcome for both the mother and baby in our first delivery of 2013," said Air Force Col. (Dr.) Mark Campbell, who was the attending physician in the operating room and also serves as program director for the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program. AJ's parents, both former Soldiers, will be returning to their San Antonio home soon with their first born for a belated New Year's celebration. Both will look back fondly at their brief time at SAMMC, Juston said. "I was very impressed with the quality of care and the professionalism we received here," he said. "I'm really thrilled with this hospital."