Navy dad surprises his kids at school after he returns from Afghanistan

(INSIDE EDITION) - When an unexpected visitor dropped in during school reading time, this 8-year-old couldn't believe his eyes.

Jacob and his younger sister Kaya, 5, were not-so-coincidentally matched up for buddy reading time at the Kenosha School of Technology Enhanced Curriculum in Wisconsin when suddenly, their Navy father walked in the door after 8 months of being deployed in Afghanistan..

Kaya had her back turned when her stunned brother slowly tapped her shoulder. She can be seen immediately yelling, "Daddy!" and jumping into his arms.

Navy Lieutenant Commander James Prahl picked up his son with his other arm.

"I think the best way to describe it is you truly see and feel unconditional love," Prahl said, according to Today.com.

Prahl is primarily a doctor in Chicago, but he said he had never been deployed that long.

"Obviously it is very hard," Prahl said, according to Today.com. "The hardest moments are missing the holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and my son's birthday."

Aside from the reunion itself, Prahl said the sweetest part was seeing his children together, pointing out that Jacob made sure his little sister felt included in the moment when he tapped her shoulder before he reacted.

"I think many military children develop very strong bonds with their siblings as they learn to cope with loved ones being gone together," he told Today.com.

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