Sgt. Kenneth Riley hugs his two children upon his return from the Middle East. (Photo: WBOC)MAGNOLIA, Del.- Air Force Sgt. Kenneth Riley has not been able to hug his 4-year-old son Tristan in six months, but that all changed Thursday after Riley returned home to Magnolia after a deployment in the Middle East.
"I love you Tristan," he said. "I love you daddy," said his son.
His wife, Brandy, said the time away has been very tough on her family.
"Every day for six whole months little man has cried, at least one point in the day for daddy," she said.
Riley surprised not only his son but also his daughter with his return. He sneaked up on her at McIlvene Elementary during school. She knew he was coming home soon.
"It was excellent, they've been begging for quite a while," Riley said.
Riley was last deployed five years ago and missed some major milestones.
"She was born during my last deployment and I didn't meet her until 10-weeks-old," he said.
But now, the family is complete again.
"It's been a long time waiting, six months has felt like two years, honestly," Brandy Riley said.
Riley is expected to have some time at home with his family but will eventually deploy again from the Dover Air Force Base.
