Louisville Air Force captain breaks down surprising daughter after 7 month deployment

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- For Zaara Kearschner, Thursday was just a regular day at Wilder Elementary School, until it wasn't.

The second grade student said she was sitting at her desk working, when her principal came in looking for her. 

"Where's Zaara? Zaara... Zaara we got someone special to see you sweetheart," said a Wilder Elementary School administrator, captured on video posted to the school's X page Thursday.

"I thought I was going to the principal's office and thought I did something bad," Zaara said.

Steps behind her principal was her father, Air Force Captain Kerry Kearschner, who just got to town after a seven month deployment. 

Kerry had been deployed to Iraq, Syria, and Kuwait, where he works as a contracting officer.

"I couldn't wait to see her and hug her tight, be there for her again," Kerry said. "It's more than most eight-year-olds have to go through and she stepped up and helped her mom, the family, her baby sister, just really proud of her." 

Kerry said he hoped to surprise Zaara in some fashion, after learning she had taken a liking to military homecoming videos on social media.

"I was feeling very happy," Zaara said.

"I couldn't hold it together. I was crying and I think she was crying a little bit," Kerry said.

Not captured on video, was the welcome homes from the rest of his family, including his wife Karthikaa Baskar and younger daughter Ziva Kearschner. 

"It was hard to say the least, but I'm so glad he's back," Baskar said. 

One month before Kerry deployed, the now-almost-eight-month-old Ziva was born.

The family lived in Los Angeles, where Kerry is based, but with a newborn, Baskar taking on a new job, and Kerry heading overseas, his family decided to temporarily relocate.

Baskar, who recently moved to the U.S. from London, and her two daughters moved in with Kearschner's parents in Louisville. 

"We knew it was going to be a big, big task to raise both the girls in Los Angeles while she was working. So they moved out here, Zaara, went to school out here... we had family really, step in and help out and support us," Kerry said.

"I don't think we would have done this without them," Baskar said.

For Kerry, leaving his family in his hometown while overseas, meant a lot. 

"Louisville has always been a piece of me. It's a pretty special place and it's great that they all get to experience like a part of me." Kerry said.  

The family is now reunited under the same roof for now, and with Christmas decorations still up, plans to celebrate a belated Christmas.

"We wanted to celebrate Christmas. We didn't want him to miss that, because he missed his birthday too, our birthdays. We decided to have the decorations up so we can do Christmas all over again," Baskar said. 

"Just looking forward to spending time, and taking care of the girls," Kerry said.

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