September 24, 2024

Homecoming at Homecoming: Father returns home from deployment and surprises sons

Cody Richards disguised himself as Big Red during lunchtime at Berg Middle School

By Christopher Braunschweig
Cody Richards, a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army who just finished his fourth and final deployment, embraces his sons Jaiden, 12, and Sam, 11, after making a suprise visit to their school dressed as Big Red on Sept. 20 in Berg Middle School.

Cody Richards, a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army who just finished his fourth and final deployment, embraces his sons Jaiden, 12, and Sam, 11, after making a suprise visit to their school dressed as Big Red on Sept. 20 in Berg Middle School. (Christopher Braunschweig)

Cody Richards had one last mission. Instead of inspecting fires and enforcing safety protocols, like he did during his most recent nine-month deployment to Romania as a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army, he was to go undercover as the Big Red cardinal mascot and surprise his two sons at Berg Middle School.

In a terrific display of covert espionage, the four-times deployed solider — dressed in a full, red-feathered costume — greeted middle schoolers with high-fives, hugs and waves. His sons Jaiden, 12, and Sam, 11, did not suspect a thing; even when their father sat beside them at the lunch table.

Sam Richards, 11, speaks with his friends at the lunch table, unaware that his dad, Cody Richards, is disguised as Big Red and waiting to surprise him and his brother, Jaiden, of his return home from a nine-month deployment in Romania for the U.S. Army.

Sam Richards, 11, speaks with his friends at the lunch table, unaware that his dad, Cody Richards, is disguised as Big Red and waiting to surprise him and his brother, Jaiden, of his return home from a nine-month deployment in Romania for the U.S. Army. (Christopher Braunschweig)

Meanwhile, their stepmother, Mandy, watched from classroom window overlooking the large middle school atrium. While a visit from a giant cardinal isn’t too out of the ordinary at Newton schools, students easily believed Big Red would spend lunch with them since it was Homecoming week.

However, there was another homecoming about to take place.

As soon as he was ready, Cody Richards took off the custom head and revealed himself. The boys were stunned. Their jaws dropped. Dad was home, and he was home for good. They couldn’t get out of their seats fast enough. Arms wrapped around their father’s neck, they buried their faces into his shoulders.

Brothers Sam Richards, 11, and Jaiden Richards, 12, embrace their dad, Cody Richards, after finding out he was disguised as Big Red and thus has returned home from a deployment overseas.

Brothers Sam Richards, 11, and Jaiden Richards, 12, embrace their dad, Cody Richards, after finding out he was disguised as Big Red and thus has returned home from a deployment overseas. (Christopher Braunschweig)

With his mission accomplished, Cody Richards embraced his boys and enjoyed the heartfelt moment. He later told Newton News that he appreciated the support from the Newton Community School District to allow him to make this surprise visit. It was a touching moment to share with his boys.

“I get kinda of choked up talking about it,” he said.

The Richards family reunite after Cody Richards, a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army who finished his fourth and last deployment, surprised his sons Jaiden and Sam while at school disguised as Big Red, the school district's mascot.

The Richards family reunite after Cody Richards, a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army who finished his fourth and last deployment, surprised his sons Jaiden and Sam while at school disguised as Big Red, the school district's mascot. (Christopher Braunschweig)

Cody Richards thought about his kids and his family throughout his deployment. Although it was his shortest deployment — and a non-combative one at that — it was also the hardest because there were moments when he did have more time on his hands. It was in those moments he missed his family the most.

Cody Richards shares a laugh and gives a hug to son Jaiden Richards after surprising him of his return home from deployment oversears.

Cody Richards shares a laugh and gives a hug to son Jaiden Richards after surprising him of his return home from deployment oversears. (Christopher Braunschweig)

To see the reaction he got from his boys, given how difficult the deployment was and how much he missed his family, was indescribable.

“I had a few tears coming,” he said. “I can’t put words to it.”

Mandy Richards added, “I was up there crying. I was like, ‘OK! I’m ready to go down there now!’”

“It was emotional.”

Cody Richards shares a moment with son Sam Richards after making a surpise return home from a deployment overseas. The sergeant first class disguised himself as Big Red and surprised the boys during Homecoming week.

Cody Richards shares a moment with son Sam Richards after making a surpise return home from a deployment overseas. The sergeant first class disguised himself as Big Red and surprised the boys during Homecoming week. (Christopher Braunschweig)

Newton
Christopher Braunschweig

Christopher Braunschweig

Christopher Braunschweig has a strong passion for community journalism and covers city council, school board, politics and general news in Newton, Iowa and Jasper County.