LINCOLN, Neb. -- A Nebraska National Guard Sgt. surprised her mom with a military homecoming on Friday morning.

Sgt. Kate Cole, a combat medical specialist with Charlie Troop 1-134 Cavalry Squadron, works with doctors and medics to treat combat medicine.

Sgt. Cole's mother, Kris, is a nurse who has worked at Bryan Health for over 35 years.

After being voluntarily deployed to the Middle East in Feb., Cole traveled for 10 months to different locations across the region including Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates.

The mission was successful and Sgt. Cole returned home with 90 other troops last Thursday in time for the holidays.

There was one person who did not know Sgt. Cole was back in Nebraska...her mother.

To pull off the surprise, Sgt. Cole told her mom her tour was extended and she would not return with her fellow troops.

With a surprise visit at the end of her shift, Kris was able to see her daughter for the first time in ten months.

“My mom has always been my biggest role model. She taught me how to be a caring and compassionate person and to always serve those around me,” said Sgt. Cole. “I’m so thankful and blessed to surprise her and be able to spend Christmas with her everyone here at home.”

Kris was surprised at her daughter coming back in time for Christmas.

“Nobody said a word to me about any of this. I’m so surprised she is home!” Kris said. “We were just starting to plan our family get together for Christmas. And now Kate will be with us. It’s been a stressful 10 months, but I know her whole unit is well trained and taken care of. I’m just so excited to have her back.”