A Havertown man who took his U.S. Army experience in Iraq over to Ukraine to help them in their fight has returned home for good, writes TaRonda Thomas for 6abc.

Patrick Creed made returned home to Havertown Thursday, surprising his daughter at Haverford Middle School.

His daughter had been told she’d be visiting with an author and instead found her father sitting alone in the library.

“Hi Molly Creed,” her father said with a laugh as she gave him a hug.

It’s a hug Creed has been waiting four months to receive.

Despite time away from his family, Creed said it was something he felt he had to do.

“Our neighbors here in Havertown are Ukrainian, and I wanted to do all I could to help,” he said. “I figured I could do something: drive a truck, dig a ditch, use my military experience as best I could.”

“He had a military history and really felt like he could do something to help, which is the kind of person he is,” said wife Michele Creed.

This is the third time Creed has been to Ukraine, joining in combat and training Ukrainian soldiers. 

Read more about Patrick Creed’s return from Ukraine at 6abc.