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Soldier home for Christmas surprises 6-year-old daughter
Pvt. First Class Kalen Martin says serving his country has been an amazing opportunity but admits it's tough being away from his wife and their 3 young kids.
GRAPEVINE, Texas - A U.S. Army soldier from North Texas got his Christmas wish early this year.
Pvt. First Class Kalen Martin is home for the holidays, and FOX 4 was there for the happy family reunion.
It's a reunion that took the breath away from a 6-year-old girl, who was left speechless at the sight of her dad.
What began as a fun Thursday morning of pajama Read-a-rama at Silver Lake Elementary School in Grapevine ended up being a day with a plot twist.
"Daddy missed you so much," Kalen told his daughter, Claire Martin, as he surprised her first-grade classroom. "Your class is so sweet. Thank you, all."
Kalen had been gone since September, completing boot camp in South Carolina.
"One of the greatest feelings I've ever felt in my life. These past two months have been quite challenging. It's an amazing opportunity to be able to serve my country," he said. "Biggest challenges by far were being away from my family, my kids."
Kalen attended Silver Lake School himself but said he never would have imagined being back in uniform to see his daughter.
"I want my children to have opportunities I didn't necessarily have while growing up.
Kalen and his wife, Heather Martin, have two more children: 3-year-old Chase and 1-year-old Oden.
"I could not stop crying. I'm still crying," Heather said. "They have a special relationship. So seeing them reunited is just everything to me."
"He always plays with me, picks me up and turns me around," Claire said.
It's a moment that will likely go down for the Martins as the best Christmas gift ever.
"I really have everything that I need," Heather said.
Kalen is only home for 14 days. He will then go to Fort Gregg Adams, Virginia, to finish his training and learn where his family will be stationed.