Ramsey: Air Force officer cheering on daughter, Pine Creek from overseas

Lt. Col. Rob McCloy is one of those fathers who never misses a game. He’s sat in the stands for years shouting encouragement to his volleyball-playing daughters.

Now, he sits 7,000 miles from home and misses the games.

Oh, how he misses the games.

His daughter, Rory, plays this weekend with her Pine Creek teammates at the state 5A volleyball tournament.

Meanwhile, Rob is in Southwest Asia, where he works for the Air Force. For security reasons, he requested his specific location not be revealed.

“This is probably the toughest thing I’ve gone through in a long time,” McCloy said by phone.

“They won district. They won regionals. They’re the No. 1 seed. It’s just amazing.”

For a moment, he was just another proud, excited parent, and his voice was bouncing.

But he’s not just another proud parent. He’s a father stranded a long way from home, a father trying to comprehend that he’ll miss his daughter’s defining volleyball moment.

“It’s breaking my heart that I can’t be there to see it,” he said. “You know, I’m her big volleyball fan. I’ve always been there to see her success and to be there when she’s been down.

“This is frustrating. It drives you nuts.”

Rob, a 1981 Air Academy grad and 1986 Air Force Academy grad, returns Monday to the United States, ending six months away from his wife and five children.

As you might guess, he wishes he could return a few days earlier.

He’s experienced the thrills of a state volleyball tournament. His oldest daughter, Tiffany, played in the state tournament for Doherty, and dad was there in the stands.

Rory won’t listen to her father’s cheers, but she’s not the type to complain — or talk — much. She spoke calmly after practice about her father’s absence. Yes, she wishes dad could come home a few days earlier.

“He’s always been the person I look up to and now he’s not here and it’s different,” said Rory, a junior setter.

Today and Saturday, Rory will compete beside her talented teammates. She’ll listen to the shouts of a big crowd at the Denver Coliseum. Her friends will be there, along with most of her family.

Dad won’t be there.

He’ll sit by his computer 7,000 miles away, thinking about his daughter and waiting for scores from matches he can’t see.