Reservist surprises daughter at school

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) - Members of the 914th are back in the arms of their family and friends and one of them had a big surprise in store for their daughter at a school on Wednesday.

Little did Samantha Prica know that when five air reservists from the 914th arrived at the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport Tuesday night, after a six month tour of duty in Kandahar Province in Afghanistan, that her dad would be in the group.

Sr. Master Sergeant Joe Prica said, "Actually, I came home through the Buffalo Airport last night, but I tried to stay off camera so that I could surprise Samantha today."

Joe's wife, Pattie, said, "I'm A horrible secret keeper. I stayed away from her!"

"All I could think is, 'Holy cow! He's home!' And like I did, I just ran up and hugged him. That's all I wanted to do," smiled Samantha.

So, who made Wednesday's reunion possible?

Pattie grinned, "Guilty. She has been bugging me for a month as to when her dad is coming home."

The Prica family have exemplified what it is like to serve ones country. Five of Samantha's relatives, including her mom and dad, have either been or are presently serving in the Armed Forces. For families waiting for a loved one to return from service, the days can turn into months.

"This is the first tour that she really knew the time and time past. And then Christmas was hard," said Pattie.

Samantha recalled, "We Skpyed once and he used to call me every morning."

DeSales Principal Dr. Scott Fike put it best, saying, "He serves and does it for us."