One Brown County family received the best Christmas present they could have asked for a few days early.

On Tuesday, Gloria Gandara picked up her son, U.S. Air Force Airman Miguez Zuniga, from DFW International Airport. After an emotional reunion, the two drove home to Brownwood.

“I missed him so much, it felt like forever and I didn’t want to let go of him,” Gandara said. “The only ones that knew (he was coming) was my fiance and me, and Miguel’s cousin Gabby knew about it. I love that he’s home. I don’t care much for gifts right now, I’m on cloud nine and I’m sure his brother is too.”

Upon arrival in Brownwood, Zuniga was placed in a large box near the tree, where his 17-year-old brother Eugene Zuniga unwrapped his Christmas surprise.

“I was trying to be nosey and find out what was in the box and when (Miguel) was going to get here,” Eugene Zuniga said. “It was a total surprise to me. It means a lot to have him home. I haven’t seen him in 13 months.”

Gandara said of the Christmas package, “I put Miguel in a box with balloons and called my son Eugene out to open the gift. I had to use an excuse so I said my sister-in-law wanted (Eugene) to open the present because she was the one who video taped it.”

Airman Zuniga has spent the last year-plus at Osan Air Force Base in Korea.

“I have known for two months he was coming in,” Gandara said. “His brother was trying to get it out of me and I just made up a date, Jan. 18, which is when he actually goes back. As far as his brother knew, he was coming in Jan. 18.”