Returning Army sergeant surprises son at school
Caleb Landeck hesitated with uncertainty, then waved shyly as the soldier squatted down to the 6-year-old’s level.
When the man in military fatigues stayed by his side, the Owatin Creek Elementary School firstgrader gave another small wave. But it wasn’t until the soldier removed his hat and whispered a few words that the look of recognition spread over Caleb’s face.
The soldier was his father, Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Landeck.
No longer hesitant or shy, Caleb flung his arms around his daddy’s neck.
Newly returned from an 11-month tour of duty in Kuwait, Landeck of Exeter Township surprised his son Friday during a pep rally in an amphitheater outside the school.
“Your sacrifice and your courage are inspiring to our community and to our students that sit right here with us today,” Charles Payne, Owatin Creek principal, said in welcoming Landeck home.
Landeck served in Kuwait as motor and maintenance platoon sergeant for the 1067th Composite Truck Company Heavy.
Over his 23-year career with the Army, he has made countless sacrifices and mustered mountains of courage and resilience, his wife, Samantha Deshong, said in a news release.
Landeck enlisted in the infantry in 1999, and after achieving an E7 ranking, navigated five tours of duty for a total of 44 months on foreign soil. He was deployed once to Bosnia, twice to Iraq and twice to Kuwait.
Landeck has been decorated with numerous awards, mostly recently earning a meritorious service medal during his latest deployment.
“Serving our country or serving out military requires sacrifice, being away from home, family, friends,” said Brandon Ziegler, an Exeter High School social studies teacher and Army veteran who served in Iraq.
While Landeck was away, his family stayed close through video chats and capturing special moments on videos they could share. His father was able to see how much he was growing, Caleb said.
The boy said he was happy to have his father home, and admitted he didn’t recognize him immediately.
Before Landeck made his appearance, the students sang patriotic songs and watched a demonstration by Exeter Police K-9 officer Iko.
Waving small hand-held flags and singing patriotic songs, they also watched as the Exeter fire department hoisted a giant U.S. flag and suspended it between two ladder trucks.
Then Payne asked for a volunteer to wave a special Owatin Creek flag. Almost all the students’ hands shot up, but as prearranged, Payne chose Caleb, calling the boy down front where his father could greet him.
Although the school’s faculty and staff were in on the surprise, a collaboration of the township, school district and area residents, it was kept from Caleb and the other students, Payne said.
“They think they are just attending a patriotic pinkout pep rally before tonight’s game,” he said before the reunion.
Landeck with his wife and sons Caleb and Emmet, 2, were to toss the coin Friday night before Exeter’s home football game against Warwick High School.