Another Great Father-Child Iraq War Homecoming

"One of the first things (Gabriel) shared about himself was that his dad was in Iraq and that he was waiting for his dad to come home," she said. "He talks about his dad all the time."

From Boy's wrapped birthday gift is dad back from Iraq (Nevada Appeal, 1/30/09):

Gabriel Hurles' sixth birthday party wasn't a surprise, but his present sure was. The kindergartner was so engrossed in the cupcakes his mother brought to his class on Wednesday that he didn't notice the enormous wrapped box off to the side.

"That's one big, giant present," a 6-year-old classmate told him. "See what you got, Gabriel."

Gabriel peeled back the wrapping paper to find the surprise of his young life — his father, an Army mechanic back in Nevada on leave from his second tour in Iraq.

"It's my dad!" he announced to his classmates at Sutro Elementary School in Dayton, a few miles northeast of Carson City. "Hi, Daddy."

Army Spc. Casey Hurles, 23, hadn't seen his son since he left in June. When he learned his leave would coincide with his son's birthday, he hatched a plan to hide out in the 4-foot-tall box.

"It was such a rush of emotion," said Hurles, who said he got butterflies in his stomach while waiting in the box.

After Hurles sat down and ate a cupcake with the birthday boy, teacher Dawn VanSickle presented him with a banner from the class that read, "Welcome Home. Thank you for your service."

VanSickle said she was happy to arrange the reunion in her classroom.

"One of the first things (Gabriel) shared about himself was that his dad was in Iraq and that he was waiting for his dad to come home," she said. "He talks about his dad all the time."

Watch the video of little Gabriel and his dad by clicking here.

There are two other touching videotaped homecomings of fathers and their children which we've had on this blog:

The reunion of Sailor Bill Hawes (pictured), who came home from Iraq and snuck into his little son's kindergarten class--to watch the video, click here.

The reunion of 11-year-old Siri Jordan with her father Dan is pictured (right)--to watch the video, click here.

Thanks to David, a reader, for the Gabriel story.

WHYJUDGELITTLE.com I was sued & lost custody for becoming a firefighter by my ex-wife Dora Heisey. Alabama Judge Loyd H. Little, Jr. has ignored his own rulings & reversed himself 3 times. Judge Little miscounted the number of days he had to rule & would not correct his mistake which has placed my son in a worse custody situation. Many like me have lost complete confidence in the Alabama judicial system.--Chris Hobbs, Dad www.WHYJUDGELITTLE.com

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