Soldier returns home, surprises daughters
BLUE ROCK, Ohio (KTVU) - A sweet 'soldier surprise' occurred over the weekend as two young girls were reunited with their father.
Sergeant First Class Terry Gottke just returned home after a year-long deployment in Afghanistan.
Brittany Gottke tells KTVU they didn't tell the girls, 7-year-old Tawny and 5-year-old Brea, when their father would return because she thought it would be easier on them.
Brittany said it's been especially hard on Tawny having her dad gone and she's had some health problems because of it.
Since Brittany and Terry are both firefighters with Wayne Township Fire Department they decided to get the fire department's help for their big surprise.
Wayne Township fire trucks escorted Terry home. Terry got into his gear and surprised the girls in their front yard.
The girls screamed "Daddy" before wrapping him in an embrace.
"We are happy he is home. The last year has been really tough. The girls will not let him out of their sight," said Brittany.
Terry has been in the military for 13 years.