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Kaylynn Karl runs into the waiting arms of her dad, SSgt. Zach Karl of the U.S. Army, who has been deployed for the past year. Karl wanted to surprise his young daughter, who is a kindergarten student at East Elementary. BA photo by Jean Hayworth
Breckenridge Kindergarten student Kaylynn Karl was in for a surprise Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 6, with the entire staff at East Elementary aware of a visitor she would have in her classroom. Her father, SSgt. Zachary Karl was on his way back home from a tour in Korea at the DMZ, Tuesday, with a delayed flight out of Phoenix, Ariz. into Dallas-Fort Worth at midnight. Karl would get to see his dad, Perry Karl and his son, two-and-a-half-year-old Kayden Karl, whom he had not seen for a year. This was his second tour in Korea, away from his family.
Kaylynn is in Ms. Teresa Guardiola’s kindergarten class at East Elementary. Her grandmother, Debbie Karl, and her great-grandmother, Elaine Goswick, were also on hand for the special reunion, along with SSgt. Karl.
If you drive by the house on W. Williams, one can view the “Welcome Home” sign in the yard of his grandparents, Bobby and Elaine Goswick and his parents Perry and Debbie Karl.
Several attendees felt the reunion was precious and a feel good, “tearyeyed” moment for all those present in the classroom for the surprise and the yell of “daddy,” heard by all. The look on Kaylynn’s face was of shock and joy, which was observed by friends and family in attendance.
After a few minutes of kisses and lots of hugs, Kaylynn introduced her classmates and then took her daddy on a tour of the hallway which has all their projects posted. She never once let go of his hand or him hers.
SSgt. Karl will be returning for duty at Fort Hood, but his main focus at the moment will be to get re-acquainted with his two young children, who had not seen him in person since February 2018. SSgt. Karl said he would be guaranteed at least a year stateside before he would be deployed again.
SSgt. Karl has been in the U.S. Army for nine years and during that time he has been deployed for two tours to Afghanistan and two tours to Korea, at the DMZ.
