Fort Worth

Military Dad Arrives Home Early, Surprises Sons at Home and School

Two little boys in Fort Worth got a big surprise this week when their father, who is in the Navy, came home from deployment early.

Timothy Ramirez Sr., who joined the U.S. Navy eight years ago, has two sons and a daughter on the way. Deployed in Bahrain for two years, he was recently sent home so that he could be with his wife as she delivered their third child.

"We found out my daughter has a heart defect, so they brought my husband home for the birth and so he can be home for the delivery and the heart surgeries after she is born," said Jeanette Ramirez, Timothy's wife.

Jeanette said her husband arrived Friday night, but they wanted to surprise their sons, Timothy Ramirez Jr. and his 3-year-old brother Ezekiel.

"We kept him [Timothy Sr.] hidden, so he could surprise the family on Monday," she said. "He spent all morning surprising everyone at school." 

Jeanette said as a military family they're familiar with deployment, but "this is the first time they (their sons) are old enough to understand and actually know he was gone."

Younger son Ezekiel was the first to see his daddy on Monday morning. That surprise came at home and the video of that moment melts hearts.

Timothy stood at the door of his in-law's house waiting for his youngest son. The door opened, Ezekiel saw his dad and said the perfect words, "Daddy! Daddy!" as the eager father scooped up his little boy and planted kisses on his cheek.

With the first reunion complete, Ezekiel, his mom and dad then headed to Bruce Shulkey Elementary to surprise Ezekiel's older brother.

Video shows the moment Timothy Sr. walked into the school cafeteria looking for his son. Other children noticed him, pointed and shouted "soldier, soldier."

There was no doubt who that soldier belonged to as Timothy Jr. saw his dad. For the second time that day, the father scooped up his child and delivered a big hug; a reunion both thought would come much later.

Jeanette said both boys were born premature and if the daughter she now carries follows that pattern she could arrive anytime between now and her due date of Jan. 4.

And, when she gets here, her military dad will be there waiting with open arms and plenty of hugs for her, too.

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