Sgt. Charles Roberts wanted to make sure his son had a happy birthday.

The Army Reservist was activated and sent overseas in February. Currently, he's stationed in Balad, Iraq, at Camp Anaconda.

He returned on leave just in time to surprise his son at school Dec. 8.

"My wife was the only one who knew I was coming home," Roberts said. He'd been sent home to attend an NCOES, an advancement training course, in January. He was given 30 days before the course to get re-acclimated to being home and to spend time with his family. The first thing he wanted to do, he said, was to surprise his kids.

Roberts and his wife Cindy have two children, both of whom attend Farrell Elementary School. Maja, 10, is in fifth grade; C.J., who just turned 9, is in third grade.

"I went down to C.J.'s classroom," Roberts said, and walked in the door. He was in the middle of a spelling test, and I said, 'Doesn't someone have a birthday tomorrow?' "

His son, he said, was in shock.

"I don't think he talked for about 10 minutes," he said. "All of the other kids started clapping."

C.J.'s teacher, Megan Ondo, and Principal Steve Gurerra, who escorted Roberts through the school, were moved to tears.

The day before, Mrs. Ondo said, the little boy had told her all he wanted for his birthday was for his dad to come home. C.J., she said, had talked about his father all the time.