Staff sergeant returns home, surprises daughter

Christmas came a month late for a Hardin County, Ky., first grader whose father has been in Afghanistan for the past nine months.

The first graders thought that WLKY was bringing their cameras in to see how polite the students were ... but they were really there for one little girl in particular.

Quietly sitting at lunch, Lindsey Owens, 6, had no idea that her dad was about to surprise her.

Staff sergeant Jon Owens has been in Afghanistan for the past nine months, but he's finally home to give his little 'daddy's girl' a hug.

The surprise was so overwhelming that Lindsey, who didn't know how to react at first, eventually started to cry. Owens, for his part, couldn't believe how mature she looked.

Lindsey got to go home early to spend the rest of the day with her dad. Owens could be deployed in the future, so the family is going to treasure this special time together.