It was an incredibly emotional reunion.

Bob Withers had not seen his son, Robert Jr, since the young pilot had set sail for an eight-month deployment across the globe with the United States Marine Corp.

For most of that time Mr Withers, LF Wade International Airport’s air operations manager and a former Marine himself, had prayed for his son’s safe return.

So to be able to embrace him on the airport tarmac, after Capt Withers flew into Bermuda from the USS Bataan as he headed home, was a moment to treasure.

Mr Withers Sr told The Royal Gazette the Osprey flight had been arranged so new aircraft parts could be taken to the carrier.

“It was truly one of the most exciting moments I have had,” he said. “As a parent, you always have your prayers and hope for the best.

“To see him on the return trip, to know he was going to be OK and had lived through another deployment was overwhelming.

“It was quite emotional, especially as my father had passed away while Robert had been on his deployment.”

He added: “You never know what they are going to be involved in. You don’t speak about it.

“To have almost an hour with him on the tarmac was pretty amazing.

“I prepared some box lunches and drink for Robert and the crew so we could have lunch while we waited for the transfer of parts to be completed.”

Capt Withers, 32, the third generation of Marine in his family, left the US in February with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Force on board USS Bataan.

His deployment took him through the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, as well as Iraq and Kuwait.

The father of three was on his way home to Jacksonville, North Carolina, when he and three colleagues flew into Bermuda on an Osprey to pick up aircraft parts.

Capt Withers was able to spend an hour with his father before the Marine crew took the machinery back to the aircraft carrier.

Mr Withers Sr will meet up with his son and the rest of his family again this week in the US to attend a commemorative celebration for his father, Sergeant Robert G Withers, who died this year.

“We lost Rob’s grandfather in early July and have waited for Rob’s return to have a fitting memorial for a true Marine Corps hero,” he said.

“My father, 1st Sgt Robert G Withers, was on the amphibious landing at Incheon, South Korea, as a combat engineer.

“As one of the first to land, he was wounded that day and spent several months of healing on a US Navy hospital ship to be released in time to then go into the Chosen Reservoir to fight the Chinese in one of our greatest stories of Marine Corp history.

“He received two Purple Hearts for the Korean War and then later went on to serve and fight in Cuba and South Vietnam.”