Green Country Soldier Back On The Homefront Surprises Children At School

By Lacie Lowry, The News On 6

GLENPOOL, OKLAHOMA -- A Green Country soldier surprised his three sons at school Friday after an 18-month deployment.

"I don't get excited about a lot of things, but this was one thing I wanted to do for them," Sergeant Steve Kelley, US Army, said.

Kelley is back from an 18-month deployment to Korea and couldn't wait to see his kids. His three sons are enrolled in Glenpool Public Schools - one at each of the three campuses: the elementary, middle school and high school.

The soldier surprised 12-year-old Chandler first.

"It's hard being away from families, but it's not just for me and my family," Sergeant Kelley said. "It's for everybody."

"It makes me feel proud that my dad is helping our country," Chandler Kelley said.

Chandler wants to shoot guns with his dad at the shooting range.

Next, Sergeant Kelley was off to the Glenpool elementary school to pop in on the youngest son, Jacob.

"Its nerves at first, but the excitement once everything starts to happen, it's exciting and it's emotional," Sergeant Kelley said.

Jacob hopes to go hunting and camping with his dad as soon as possible. Oldest son Jeff is a high school, he was the last stop.

Jeff wants to follow his father's lead and join the armed forces.

"He's giving everything he can to serve our country," Jeff said. "I hope to be half the man that he is.

No other family members know Kelley's here, so he has more surprises up his sleeve.

"It's good to be home," he said. "Now we can go do all the catching up that the last 18 months have not allowed us to do."

Sergeant Kelley will be home until October 25th then he heads to Virginia for school. He hopes to eventually end up at Ft. Sill to be closer to home.