DAYTON, NEV (AP) -- Gabriel Hurles' sixth birthday party wasn't a surprise but his present sure was.
The kindergartner was so engrossed in the cupcakes his mother brought to his class on Wednesday that he didn't notice the enormous wrapped box off to the side.
When a classmate finally pointed it out, Gabriel peeled back the wrapping paper to find the surprise of his young life -- his father, an Army mechanic back in Nevada on leave from his second tour in Iraq.
Specialist Casey Hurles says he hadn't seen his son since he left in June.
When he learned his leave would coincide with his son's birthday, the 23-year-old Fort Hood soldier hatched the plan to hide out in the 4-foot tall box.
After Hurles sat down and ate a cupcake with the birthday boy, teacher Dawn VanSickle presented him with a banner from the class that read, "Welcome Home. Thank you for your service."
Hurles is about seven months into his second tour and expects to finish sometime this summer.
Gabriel says he looks forward to playing with his dad over the next two weeks but understands why he has to leave again.
The young boy said: "He works in the war."
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