A soldier who was gifted with a plane ticket to see his widowed mother on Christmas saw his holiday turn to horror when he was left with severe facial injuries by a gang in Philadelphia, his family said.

A kind stranger had paid for Austin Freni, 19, to fly from his army base in Georgia to his mom Lori in New Jersey after spotting his GoFundMe page. He was due to fly out to the Middle East in the New Year.

But while attending the annual Mummers Parade - a colorful folk festival - in Philadelphia on Sunday, 10-15 men put him in hospital because of his Army jacket, his mom told Fox 29.

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Beaten: Austin Freni (left) was savagely beaten by 10-15 men on Sunday according to his mom Lori (right). She said they commented on his Army jacket before the attack

Hospitalized: Freni will need to have his jaw wired shut and plates put in his face, she said. He had flown over for Christmas, as Lori was left widowed two years before

Freni, his mom and girlfriend were strolling through Philadelphia after the parade when they the large group of young men walked by them and made 'derogatory' comments about Freni's jacket, she said.

She says that one of those men then hit Freni, and the others leaped in to attack him as well.

'Me and his girlfriend tried pulling them off and they hit us,' she added. 'We got hit in the face. She got thrown in the street.'

Now Freni is in Jefferson University Hospital, facing a long road to recovery.

'He's got to get plates put in his jaw and his mouth will be wired shut for the next eight weeks.

The 'He's such a good kid, he did not deserve this.'

Kindness: Freni was flown back for Xmas by a stranger who saw his GoFundMe page and paid for his ticket

The shocking attack is made even more upsetting by the circumstances of Freni's visit.

The soldier had been stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia, and was to head out to the Middle East next year.

He hadn't been able to make it home for Thanksgiving, much to the disappointment of his mom, who lost her husband to brain cancer two years ago, and later had to leave her job.

Lori was prepared to sell her things to bring her some home for Christmas, she told Fox 29 last month, but set up a GoFundMe page as a last resort.

That page was then stumbled upon by Jennifer Richardson, who then bought them the ticket outright - inspired by her own experiences with her brother, who is in the Marines.

Lori Freni said at the time she was delighted to expect her son back for the holiday.

'I'm really really excited! I'm never speechless!' she enthused.