Gov. Jay Nixon (D) during a 2009 visit with Missouri soldiers in Iraq. The Dept. of Defense has not yet cleared any photos of Nixon's current trip to Afghanistan.
Soldier Nicholas Hagler meets his three week-old son in person for the first time. Hagler saw his son's birth over Skype while stationed in Afghanistan. Looking on is his wife Martha Hagler.
One mid-Missouri soldier has returned home early from his deployment to Afghanistan. Yesterday, Sergeant Major Mike Lederle attended a flag presentation assembly at Southern Boone High School. But the soldier’s presence was a surprise for his 9th and 11th graders who attended the assembly.
The moment was seconds away, but Sergeant Major Lederle was ready for battle. His boots were tied, his gear was perfectly rolled and tucked in, and his posture was stoic. But this time, it wasn’t an enemy he was confronting, it was anticipation.
Sergeant Major Mike Lederle and his wife Kena planned a surprise for their children at their school in Ashland Wednesday, September 12th. His 9th and 11th graders, Trinten and Samantha, thought Mike was still on deployment to Afghanistan.
Credit Russell Chapin / KBIA
Sergeant Major Mike Lederle and his wife Kena planned a surprise for their children at their school in Ashland Wednesday, September 12th. His 9th and 11th graders, Trinten and Samantha, thought Mike was still on deployment to Afghanistan.
Credit Russell Chapin / KBIA
Sergeant Major Mike Lederle and his wife Kena planned a surprise for their children at their school in Ashland Wednesday, September 12th. His 9th and 11th graders, Trinten and Samantha, thought Mike was still on deployment to Afghanistan.
Credit Russell Chapin / KBIA
Trinten and Samantha Lederle took part in a flag presentation ceremony at Southern Boone County High School, thinking their father Mike was still on deployment to Afghanistan. Mike then surprised them with an early return home.
Credit Russell Chapin / KBIA
Sergeant Major Mike Lederle and his wife Kena planned a surprise for their children at their school in Ashland Wednesday, September 12th. Mike waited outside the gymnasium as his kids took part in a flag presentation ceremony.
Credit Russell Chapin / KBIA
Sergeant Major Mike Lederle and his wife Kena planned a surprise for their children at their school in Ashland Wednesday, September 12th. Mike waited outside the gymnasium as his kids took part in a flag presentation ceremony.
Sergeant Major Mike Lederle surprised his children at their school in Ashland Wednesday afternoon. His 9th and 11th graders, Trinten and Samantha, thought they were just attending a flag presentation assembly at Southern Boone County high School. But during the ceremony, their father – who they thought was still on deployment to Afghanistan – walked out to greet them with a hug.
