Sgt. First Class Gene Belcher surprises his son Austin Belcher at Mt. Olive Elementary School on Monday when he returned home for a 15-day leave. Standing behind Belcher at the school is his mother, Betty Belcher.

By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



A Kindergartner at Mt. Olive Elementary walked into the school library Monday and saw a man he hadn’t seen in nine months … his father.

Austin Belcher yelled “Daddy!” and ran into his father’s arms.

Sgt. First Class Gene Belcher arrived in Birmingham Monday morning after a 27-hour flight from where his Alabama National Guard unit is deployed.

Belcher could not say where his unit, the 1203 Combat Engineers of Dothan, is currently stationed.

Monday’s surprise reunion was arranged by Belcher’s wife, Cindy Belcher.

She picked him up at the airport Monday morning and took him home so he could shower.

The couple then went to Bragg Middle School to pick up their oldest son, Jesse Belcher.

Jesse, an eighth-grader, was not expecting to be called out of class Monday morning. He had no idea his father was picking him up from school.

“I didn’t figure out who it was until we got closer,” Jesse said. “I was really excited.”

Then the three drove to Mt. Olive Elementary to surprise Austin. Along with them was Gene’s parents, Robert and Betty Belcher of Mt. Olive, and Cindy’s best friend Karen Hodges of Irondale.

Everyone was waiting in the library when Austin was called from P.E. class.

The family was all smiles, including Belcher, who said he had not slept in three days.

“This is what we’re all about right now – an American family,” he said as he hugged his wife and sons.

Belcher said that where he is stationed, he and other soldiers often play soccer with the local children.

“They’re great kids,” he said. “But it makes you want to be home with your own kids.”

Belcher, an Army mechanic, is a motor sergeant and a platoon sergeant. He supervises 27 people at his current duty station.

This is his second tour of duty overseas. He was previously deployed for 23 months.