FORT JACKSON, S.C. (Oct. 30, 2014) -- Bettie Hart's class came to a halt shortly before lunch Oct. 22.
It wasn't unexpected. The kindergarten teacher at Pierce Terrace Elementary School knew a surprise was pending and was reading to students when Sgt. Alshawn Culmer quietly entered the room. All eyes were turned away as Hart continued reading.
One by one, students began to realize there was a stranger in the room. Even then, it took Kimani Baptist-Culmer, 4, a moment to recognize her father, whom she hadn't seen in nine months. Within seconds, though, she was across the room and in his arms.
For the last nine months, Culmer, who is assigned to U.S. Army Central Command, has been in Kuwait. The father of three, his youngest turns 1 in November.
"I have been a teacher for 35 years and this is the first time I've seen something like this," Hart said. "(Kimani's) mom contacted me last week, so we knew he was coming home. At first, we thought he'd be back Tuesday, but we didn't know when he would definitely arrive until Friday."
Even then, there were threats of delays.
"My flight was delayed -- a lot," Culmer said. "The flights going to Columbia had left before we got to the States. Me and a first sergeant drove down here. I had to get back to my baby. We drove all night."
"He drove from Baltimore to here to make it on time," said Culmer's wife, Sekeya Baptist-Culmer. "As far as (the children) knew, he wasn't going to be home until Halloween."
Kimani introduced her father to her friends in the classroom, who had unknowingly prepared a banner for her father. Hart had the children sign their names under the slogan "Thank you for your service," but didn't tell them it was for anyone specific.
Afterward, Kimani sat down with her father for a few minutes to show him how her reading skills had developed while he was away. She read the book, "Tam and Sam Go to the Zoo," for him from cover to cover.
Culmer said he had stayed in touch with his family via Skype and Facebook during the last nine months. The Internet connection in Kuwait was not always dependable, though.
"It does the job," he said. "It could be better, but I can't complain. As long as I'm talking to my family, I'm perfectly fine with that."
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