Command Sergeant Major Rex Ray surprised his son, Rekell Ray, at Verbena High School on Friday after returning home from his fourth deployment to Afghanistan.

“I decided to surprise Rekell today because he is the youngest child out of four and the only one left at home,” Rex said. “The other kids had me home the majority of their lives but when the war started 12 years ago, I had to leave and haven’t spent as much time with Rekell. I just wanted to do something special for him.”

Rex flew into Alabama Friday morning, arriving at the Birmingham airport, and traveled to Verbena to surprise his son.

Rekell, 13, said he was very surprised to see his dad walk into his math class and was not aware he was coming home.

“I woke up today thinking it was going to be just another day at school,” Rekell said. “It is really neat to have him back. It has been hard to have him gone.”

Rex said he looks forward to catching up on all of the sporting events he has missed participating in with Rekell.

“We have a lot of basketball games to catch up on,” Rex said.

Rex has spent more than 30 years in the United States Army with his most recent deployment lasting 10 months in Afghanistan.

In May 2011, family and friends welcomed him home from his third deployment at the Clanton Recreation Center.

Rex’s wife, Carolyn, organized the surprise event on Friday with family and friends meeting up at Verbena High School to celebrate the special day.

“He is home for good now,” Carolyn Ray said. “We are happy to have him back.”

Friday also marked the 30-year wedding anniversary for Carolyn and Rex.

“Today is a special day all around,” Rex said. “I plan to spend the rest of the day with family and friends, and I plan to take my wife on a date later to celebrate our anniversary.”