On "Superhero Day," Mayville girl gets BIG surprise! Her real-life superhero, Dad back from Kuwait!

MAYVILLE (WITI) -- It's the kind of story that never gets old! In Mayville Thursday, January 22nd, teachers and faculty at Parkview Elementary School were standing by with boxes of Kleenex -- because they knew they would need them! The only one who didn't know about a BIG surprise in a small town was the little girl being surprised.

It was "Superhero Day" Thursday at Parkview Elementary. Among the "hometown heroes" honored were police officers and firefighters -- some of whom have children who attend the school. But there's one hero who's been absent for the past year-and-a-half.

"Annika's dad has been away for the last year-and-a-half. She hasn't seen her dad. He's been away being a military superhero," a Parkview staff member said.

What Annika Krueger didn't know was that Dad actually returned home Thursday morning! His National Guard unit returned to Madison from Kuwait. He was picked up by his wife and son -- while Annika was at school.

Young Annika had NO idea what was about to happen, as staff members welcomed her papa!

"Overwhelmed! The response from the community, the support we always have is just very overwhelming!" Eric Krueger said.

Annika and her father have kept in touch via Skype and FaceTime, but a real touch wasn't possible...until now.

As for what Annika wants to do next:

"Play with him - every day!" Annika said.

"It was hard to keep from two little ones -- who every day it was 'when is Daddy coming home? When is Daddy coming home? But it was worth it," Brooke Krueger said.

To Annika Krueger and the community in Mayville, Superman's got nothing on this real-life superhero!

This was Eric Krueger's third tour of duty. He says he expects to be home for awhile -- but he says he never knows for sure.