GERMANTOWN, Tenn. -- A Dogwood Elementary first-grader got a special surprise at school Friday, as her dad returned from an 11-month deployment to the Middle East.

Tennessee Army National Guard Platoon Sergeant James Kwoka left on a mission to Kuwait and Jordan just as his daughter Holly was starting kindergarten. He returned at 2 a.m. Friday.

Holly knew her dad was coming home, but the timing was a surprise.

When Holly came out of the doors to the car rider line, there was her dad, in camo, waiting with a teddy bear. • courtesy Germantown Municipal School District • courtesy Germantown Municipal School District

Aside from the joy of seeing his daughter, Kwoka said he's glad to see green trees again, and have a burger at Huey's. He will return to his civilian job with the Germantow

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