Soldier pops the question

A local soldier returned home from Iraq Tuesday night and gave his girlfriend the surprise of her life. It took months of planning and it paid off because the surprise happened without a hitch.

23-year-old Army Specialist Daniel Nicholson returned home after a seven month stint in Iraq. Nicholson is a saw gunner with the striker unit, so he's use to being on the front lines and he's use to surprises. But he didn't expect this kind of welcome when he stepped off the plane. Armed with signs and balloons, Nicholson's family was anxious for this day to come, but a few of them were anxious in more ways than one.

"He'd better not get cold feet," said James Nicholson, his father.

Unbeknownst to Nicholson's girlfriend, he got down on one knee and proposed. This proposal took months of planning in Iraq, only a select few knew about the question that would be popped.

"His mother doesn't know either, there's only three or four of us that know. I had to buy him a ring and send it to him," said Nicholson.

Nicholson will be home in Greece for 18 days. He says he's going to make the most of his short leave while keeping his thoughts on his fellow soldiers.

"It's like a family over there, we always look out for each other, so it makes it a lot easier on us, all of us having each other's back," said Daniel Nicholson, Army Specialist.

When asked what he missed the most, besides his girlfriend of course, he said...

"I'm going to have a beer, I haven't those in about 9 months," said Nicholson.

Nicholson and his fiancee have yet to set a date. He's expected to return to Iraq for another seven month stint.