Military Brother Surprises Sister After Tour Overseas

A Green Country soldier just returned home from overseas to surprise his 10-year-old sister in time for Christmas!

Private First-Class Kolten Pembrook says the last time he saw his family was more than a year ago, and since then, he’s been through months of training and just returned from a tour in Romania.

Kolten told his mom he was coming home for Christmas, and it was her idea to surprise his 10-year-old sister, Karyssa.

For most of Karyssa’s life, she’s competed in gymnastics, and on Saturday, the day Kolten flew in, Karyssa had a gymnastics meet.

She knew she was taking home three first-place medals that day, but the announcer told her she had one more unexpected award.

That’s when her brother walked out, and the rest was pure joy.

“It was fun, actually. I talked to her coach and the gym manager, and we got it worked out,” Wanda said.

“When I saw the look on her face when she saw me, I was in tears. Yeah, it was pretty special,” Kolten added.

“I was going to cry, but I didn’t because I was on the podium,” Karyssa said. “I just feel like I can do better with him around.”

Kolten will report to his next duty station at the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, after the new year.