surprise military homecomings

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Army Sgt. 1st Class Hugh Davis hugs his daughters after the surprise at home in Fort Bliss, Texas. (Courtesy of the Davis Family)

Surprise Military Homecomings

Army Spc. Kelita Baskin, 22, had just returned from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan when she slipped into a school in Louisiana on a lucky mission. She only had 10 days at home, and she wanted to make the time special.

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Baskin was only 20 when her mother died of cancer, leaving her five younger siblings to help raise her. Her relationship with her siblings is extremely close, and she joined the military to help provide them with a better life.

To prepare her surprise, she told her siblings, who live with her aunt when she is away, that her return would be delayed. Then he turned to a former high school teacher to cause a happy shock. First she would pick up her sister from high school, then her brother from high school, and then they would go to the elementary school attended by three siblings and a cousin.

For Hilburn, it was a first — a military reunion in the halls of her school. She managed to get all four youths out of the ward without arousing suspicion.

Just as Baskin could do his job as a military policeman, she stayed out of sight until the moment was right, then stepped around the corner.

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"I had to stop myself from crying," she said. “It was so good to see them. And she was overwhelmed by how big they were. "They outnumber me." I will be the shortest sibling.''

The children ran to her, hugging and unable to hold back their tears. The reunion was not only emotional for her family, but also for other students, faculty and administrators. "We always talk about how our school is a family," Hilburn said. "Watching the reunion just tugs at your heartstrings."

In addition, it gave students an opportunity to learn more about the military and show appreciation to Baskin. "I was excited because the kids were talking about her and I had never met her," Hilburn said. "She really inspires them to want to serve."

Based on her experience, she offers suggestions for others: "Make it as special as possible and capture that moment for them."

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The world agrees with her. Surprise military reunions have exploded in recent years and provide unforgettable moments for families. But they also remind civilians of the sacrifices made when those who serve are deployed or take on other assignments far from home.

Return to War videos became popular on YouTube nearly a decade ago and have garnered tens of millions of views to date.

According to YouTube officials, reunion videos have gone from a viral fad to an enduring genre that resonates with audiences. Viewers "often come back to them to connect with these intensely emotional and poignant, real moments," said Kevin Alocca, YouTube's head of culture and trends and author of "Videocracy: How YouTube is Changing the World." . . with double rainbows, singing foxes and other trends we can't stop seeing."

"In some ways they represent the best of what Internet video can do, intimately connecting us to the authentic experience of others and celebrating what matters most in life," he said. "New ones continue to be released, and old ones can continue to attract viewers for years because they remain available for us to revisit."

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The videos show spouses, children and others going about their daily lives... and walking their loved ones to lots of screams, tears and hugs. Some of them are quite creative, with a father dressed as Spider-Man or a wonderful welcome from the family and the crowd in Atlanta. Others are smaller but just as sincere, like the veteran surprising his grandparents on Thanksgiving.

While many meetings are held in schools, others are at home, in airports, and even take place during large ceremonies such as college graduations.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Hugh Davis, returning with about 100 other soldiers from his second deployment to Kuwait, surprised his three children with a big event at Fort Bliss, Texas — a return that brought joy and anxiety.

With the change in flight times, his reunion was late in the evening, and the children watched movies and had their faces painted with other families while they waited. "I thought it was a great idea ... It certainly helps them to have to wait," he said.

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His wife Cecily nervously tried to make the surprise. "The kids were confused why we were driving at night," she said. “I was very worried, all the butterflies in your stomach.

She thought about how much her husband missed the children and how much they missed her. They took pictures the night he left and the night he came back - and the kids grew up so much in that time. "It's like seeing them for the first time," her husband said.

Despite the logistics, Cecily Davis encourages others not to miss the special comeback. "Surprises are always fun," she said. "If it can be a surprise, make it.

Davis is grateful to his wife and those who hold things together at home. “Honestly, the deployment is much harder on the family back home. "Time goes slower," he said. "When you're deployed, the pace is fast and you try to keep yourself busy."

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When he left the first time, his oldest son was less than a year old and he did not know him when he returned. “We had to reconnect. He had to find out who I was.” That memory worried him as he approached his next big meeting. "You never know how everyone is going to react." "You're always afraid of not being known."

He appreciates the resources provided by the Army and encourages others to return to take seriously the training and guidance that helps deal with issues back home.

Georgette Price, military services administrator for Bossier Parish Schools in Louisiana and a military spouse, said surprises can be great fun when someone returns, but each person needs to plan what works for their family. "It gives you, as a family member, this perfect moment to remember," she said. However, it is also important not to overlook the issues that arise from the deployment cycle, including couples negotiating how things are done upon return.

She encourages parents to talk while the family member is away about what happens when he or she returns—and to ask children if they want to know or be surprised. "You always prepare for that reunion," she said.

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Price and her husband, a retired Air Force major, surprised their children in the school office when he returned from Afghanistan. "It was sweet for us," she said. "They were very excited.

The first time Air Force Master Sgt. Paul Nardini deployed, to Diego Garcia, it was a single and no big return. But after he got married and had his first child, he was sent to Afghanistan, and his return became especially sweet. "I went around the corner and there was my daughter," he said with a touch of awe in his voice.

Now with a wife, Kimberly, and three children, ages 10, 5, and 2, Nardini finds that reuniting after even shorter separations, such as a temporary absence from duty, is precious. "When I get off the plane, I run downstairs," he said. “You can wrap your arms around me. It's amazing how it feels."

He believes videos of military meetings are useful in helping others understand what the separation is like. "For people in the military, we understand the hardships," he said. "Seeing those videos, that emotion, lets them know it's a big deal." It helps others understand what people are going through."

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As for Baskin's time at home with her siblings, she packed birthday parties and holidays into 10 days, then flew to a new assignment in Cuba, unsure when she would be home again. Her siblings FaceTime and call her often.

For her, the army is a commitment to both the country and the family. "I see it as an opportunity to better myself and help my brothers and sisters," she said. "If I go, I put them in a better situation."

Her advice to those considering a surprise date: “Do it. It's the best feeling in the world... It's worth it to see the smile on their faces." Army homecomings are so touching and will surely have your heart full of emotions. Whether soldiers surprise their families or arrive home with their brigade, you're sure to cry! Grab your tissues as you watch these heroes come home to American soil to families. pets and patriots, who love them. Here are our top 5 picks for the best soldier returns.

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