How I one time almost wasnt allowed to enter the US

How I one time almost wasnt allowed to enter the US.
This the first experience I want to share.
So in October 2012 I bought a one way ticket to go see my wife. She left Germany a little earlier, because we decided that our daughter will better be born in America. The factors, that led to that decision were patient care, which is better in America and our doc in Germany, who said "if your last child already came too fast, you might better read a book on homebirth".
Yes, doctors in America care a lot more about the well being of their patients. The one in the US immediately took my wife´s concerns seriously, very seriously.
However, 2 weeks before due date I left Germany. I had two flights, first from Munich to London Heathrow and after a 3 hour layover I would continue to Chicago O´hare. And I was excited, one year had already passed since my last trip to the Midwest.
So I find myself in Munich on the plane, the guy next to me turns out to be a ex-Marine Major and we kept talking about military stuff and how his wife is from Lithuania and he just got back from visiting her and was on his way home to Maryland. My hours in London were nice, too. I kept walking around the terminals.
Finally, it was time to catch my connection flight and I made it through security again. The candle in my carry on really is a candle and yes, the officers in Munich also checked twice. Nice personnel though.
So, I am walking to the gate and into the first boarding pass check.
And then it hit me:
Officer: "Sir, do you have a return ticket? I cant find anything."
Me: "I am sorry, no. I booked one way."
Officer: "I am sorry, you are traveling under Visa Waiver and it requires you to have a return ticket. I may not be allowed to let you enter the plane. What is the reason for your travel?"
Me: "I was totally unaware that I have to have a return ticket. And I am going to see my pregnant wife, she´s american and our daughter will be born in 2 weeks."
- You might imagine my heartbeat and pulse. Since today I cant find anything written on the return ticket police. Even filling out the VisaWaiver Application, it doesnt ask for any return information.
Officer: "OK, I tell you what. You keep it quiet and if someone asks you, tell em what you just told me and you might get lucky."

You can imagine that I spent an 8 hour flight in my own sweat. I used the time before boarding to look up some panic Google search and answer forums and the opinions could not have been different. That one guy says it isnt a big deal, just tell em that you dont know when you want to leave, he´s been doing that 10 times, even since 9/11. Others were quoting family members who work for airlines saying that the airline can be penalized up to $5000 for letting anyone board the plane on a one way ticket.
Thank you American Airlines for letting me do so.

However, 8 or 9 hours of spacy, aisle seat and we are arriving in Chicago O´Hare. It was a sunny friday afternoon, the in flight movie was MIB3 and the food was good, too. Although I like Delta Airlines for its in flight entertainment a lot more.

I find myself in the passport check area in the tourist lane and the nervouseness rises. I am watching the TSA officers. And I thought to myself: "Stick to your story. See the older asian guy in the left booth, he could feel for you - grandpa bonus-, the guy in the middle booth, shaved, big, probably former military - good, I am in the army myself, or the guy in the very right booth, shaved, bearded, big, probably likes Limp Bizkit or Linkin Park, you can relate to that."
So I thought, nice, 3 chances, 3 guys that can be tough but you will be ok.
And then,
the citizen lanes were opened up, more players in the game now. I am asked to proceed to the very left and I knew I was always bad at poker. But then I saw her, young woman, maybe beginning of her thirties.
Officer :"Sir, you dont have a return ticket. Why are you here and what do you do in Germany?
Me: " I am sorry I was unaware of the regulation. I am seeing my pregnant wife and in Germany, I am in the army."
Officer: "Sir, a entry in the USA on the VisaWaiver Program requires you to have a return ticket. And what is your wife doing here." -Face of stone-
Me:" My wife is american and we are expecting our daughter within the next to weeks."
Officer:" I can deny you entry in the US if you dont show a return ticket, are you aware of that?!" I thought she´d kill me.
Me: " I am really sorry, but I didnt read anything about it, even the Waiver Application form doesnt ask for it."
- I forgot the next questions but it was a 5 mins back and forth-
Officer: ( now really pissed off) "Sir, we have 40 million illegal immigrants in the US, what should make me sure that you will leave the country in 90 days????"
Me: " Again, I am in the military and later after my career, I would like to get a family visa because my wife and I want to live in America."
Officer: "Allright, Allright, stop it. Put your thumbs on here and your face here."

90 days. I was done.
My wife thought it was stupid of them to grill me. But hey, they have to do their job. And what I didnt know is that TSA Officers can, but do not have to grant me entry for 90 days.
However, I left after 89 days. To be on the safe side. From what I read it is the following:
1 day over 90 days: 1 year ban from re-entering the USA
Second day over 90 days: 10 year ban from re-entering the USA.


But still I cant find any information on return tickets. VisaWaiverProgram