Soldier returns home to surprise party

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - In the last month, News 10 has told you about three soldiers killed in combat who return home to a community in mourning.
     
Finally a pleasant story of a soldier returning home with honor, to a family ecstatic about his arrival.

A surprise party was held at Deming Park Friday night.
     
Staff Sergeant bob Padgett arrived back in Terre Haute this evening, returning from his fourth tour in the Army.
     
Padgett was stationed in Afghanistan for the past 22 months.
     
Little did he know he would be welcomed home with a surprise party.
     
Family and friends were waiting with arms open.
     
Padgett described the surprise and the joy of being home as incredible.

"It floored me," said Padgett. "It caught me off guard, it really did. I wasn't expecting it. Me and my wife just having a regular conversation and she didn't even give a hint that something like this was going on."
     
Padgett hopes this will be his last tour, but if he is called back he will not say no. He says that's part of wearing the uniform.