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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Over the past few weeks hundreds of Fort Carson soldiers have made their safe return home.

While many military families celebrate with their soldiers as they land, Sgt. 1st Class Bernard Johnson turned his return into a suprise.

"To see the children reconnect with [their father], you always want that connection to be something that starts off really good," Monica Johnson, Bernard's wife, said.

So, while his two middle school daughters spent the afternoon in band class, Johnson headed to join them.

After walking down the Skyview Middle School hallway, Johnson peaked around the door knew his children have no clue he's coming.

"I was playing, and I turned my head because everyone is looking at me, and I'm like what's wrong?" Cleo Johnson, Johnson's daughter, said.

Then, as the band finished playing 'America the Beautiful,' Hanna and Cleo Johnson ran into their father's arms.

The two girls, who've spent six months away from their father, had no idea he returned home while they were sleeping.

"You know I was home this morning when you went to school," Johnson said.

Johnson and his wife Monica spent two days planning Tuesday's surprise.

Monica even cut off her Skyview Middle School daughters from technology, telling the girls they were getting punished for breaking a camera.

It was a lie meant to keep the girls off of Facebook and to keep the surprise a special celebration.

Johnson has spent 19 years in the military, 15 with the U.S. Navy and four in the U.S. Army.