Airman delighted with surprise trip home

Tonya Papanikolas reportingWhile the military makes every effort to make the holidays special for men and women overseas, it's not the same as being together with their families.

We spoke to one airman at Hill Air Force Base who got a wonderful surprise this year: a trip home just days before Christmas!

Air Force Tech Sgt. Jason Smith is spending all the time he can with his 3-year-old daughter. Smith wasn't planning to be home for the holidays.

"I really didn't want to miss it. You know, be with my wife and daughter," he said.

His deployment to Kosovo wasn't scheduled to end until January, so he didn't have much choice. But five days before Christmas, he learned he'd be coming home early.

"My bosses there supported getting even one person home for Christmas," he said.

His wife, Margarita, said, "I found his e-mail in my mailbox, and I was like, 'Is that right? I cannot believe it.'"

Smith's daughter, Hannah, still remembers what she did when she saw Daddy at the airport. "Hug him," she said. She's been showing her love ever since.

Margarita said, "I can tell that she was so much more uplifted."

Christmas Day, Tech Sgt. Smith says he cherished watching Hannah tear open her presents.

"To be here and see that is a lot different than maybe seeing pictures of it or seeing it on the webcam the next day. It meant a lot to me," he said.

Margarita added, "It turned out to be a really, really good Christmas. We were so happy."

Tonight the family will ring in the new year together.

"Start a new year all together," Tech Sgt. Smith said, "instead of me being away and them waiting for me to come home. It's a great way to start 2008."

"I hope next year will bring us a lot of surprises like this!" Margarita said.

The family says being together during the holidays is something other families might take for granted, but they have learned to appreciate every moment.

Tech Sgt. Smith is expecting to be home for about a year before a possible new deployment.

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