Soldier returning from Afghanistan dresses as Power Ranger to surprise his sons aged 3 and 7



A soldier returning home from Afghanistan after nine months away decided to dress up as a Power Ranger to surprise his two young boys.



Army SFC Daryl Chandler staged the surprise on Saturday, after he and his wife Cathi reunited earlier in the day at the airport in Stockbridge, Georgia.



Their sons Cole, 7, and Idan, 3, thought they won a contest to earn a visit from the superhero, until the masked man removed his costume and the boys realized their father had come home.

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Welcome home: Cathi Chandler gathered with her friends at the airport in Stockbridge, Georgia to welcome home her husband, Daryl, from Afghanistan

At last: Daryl and Cathi embrace after 9 months apart Torn apart: With tears in her eyes, Cathi talked about how hard the deployment had been on her two sons

Surprise: The parents planned a surprise for the boys and their oldest son Cole (left) thought a red Power Ranger (right) was visiting a class party at the Chick-fil-A



Cathi told WXIA-TV that her elder son, Cole, had particularly been missing his dad.



Knowing that her husband was soon coming home, she told Cole to write down a special request as part of a so-called contest.

'I should have a superhero come to my class because I've been stressed out lately and my dad is at war in Afghanistan. If the Red Ranger came to my class that would make my day,' Cole wrote in a touching note.



When Daryl arrived home on Saturday, Cathi left her boys at home and went with a group of friends to greet her husband at the airport.



Let's go: The Red Ranger and 7-year-old Cole played around as friends and family gathered to watch

Home at last: Once the ranger revealed his true identity, he scooped up his boys

Together again: Daryl held his sons Cole and Idan after a long separation

'My heart is pounding so hard,' Cathi told the local news station excitedly as she waited for Daryl to emerge.

When Daryl did appear, dressed in fatigues, the blonde ran to meet him and fell into his arms.

But the family reunion was not yet complete.



Daryl was clued into the special surprise that awaited the boys.



He donned the costume of Cole's favorite superhero, a red Power Ranger.



With Cole's classmates gathered at a Chick-fil-A, the Power Ranger arrived on the scene and the 7-year-old showed off his fighting moves, completely unaware of who was wearing the costumes.

Happy: Cole was all smiles know that he had his dad at home

Touching: Cole (left) and Idan (right) didn't want to let go after they realized their dad had come home

Heart wrenching: Cole had written this note for a so-called contest, asking for a Red Ranger to visit him because he felt stressed out with his dad away in Afghanistan

After the fun and games, the masked guest removed his helmet.



Seeing his father, Cole couldn't contain his excitement.



His dad scooped him up and Idan, wearing an Army T-shirt in his dad's honor, also jumped in his dad's arms.

The moving scene was captured by friends and family who had gathered for the surprise.

'What he's doing as a military kid is hard,' Cathi said about her son.

In reflecting on his service, Daryl said, 'You do it for your country, knowing hopefully that what I'm doing today is something [Cole and Idan] won't have to go through.'

VIDEO ' Power Ranger soldier' surprises sons on return from A fghanistan