Photo Galleries »

Early Christmas for the Hogan family

Santa Claus, played here by Vern Wilson of Cottonwood, hands a candy cane to Katie Hogan, 13, under the watchful eyes of Major Eric Hogan, who returned home several months earlier than expected following his second year-long deployment to Iraq. Changes in military policy since the election of President Barack Obama mean that soldiers deployed overseas return home after 12 months, including pre-deployment training and post-deployment debriefing, instead of the previous administration's standard 15-month hitch for a one year deployment, Patty Hogan explained.

Photo by Michael Burke

Santa Claus, played here by Vern Wilson of Cottonwood, hands a candy cane to Katie Hogan, 13, under the watchful eyes of Major Eric Hogan, who returned home several months earlier than expected following his second year-long deployment to Iraq. Changes in military policy since the election of President Barack Obama mean that soldiers deployed overseas return home after 12 months, including pre-deployment training and post-deployment debriefing, instead of the previous administration's standard 15-month hitch for a one year deployment, Patty Hogan explained.

Photo Rating:
Gallery Rating:

  • Elise Hogan, 15, of Cottonwood and her sister, Katie, 13, tear open an appliance box after unwrapping their father, U.S. Army Major Eric Hogan, 47, who arrived home several months early on Tuesday, Dec. 22, from his second year-long deployment to Iraq.
  • 'I think I'm dreaming! Is this really happening?' Elise Hogan, 15, of Cottonwood asked as her father, U.S. Army Major Eric Hogan emerged from a giant Christmas package, several months earlier than the family originally expected. Hogan recently completed his second year-long deployment in Iraq as a logistics officer with the California National Guard.
  • From left, Jared Hogan, 10, reacts with joy as his two older sisters, Elise and Katie, get a big hug from Dad, Major Eric Hogan, who returned early from Iraq. Buried at the bottom of the pile is the youngest Hogan, Peter, 8, who also wants a piece of Dad.
  • Peter Hogan, 8, finally gets a chance to greet his father, Major Eric Hogan, while his older sister, Katie, 13, receives yet another squeeze in the pre-Christmas surprise.
  • Group hug -- Major Eric Hogan's four children, from left, Elise, Jared, Peter and Katie, can't get enough of Dad, a surprise early return from Iraq that he cooked up and pulled off with the help of his wife, Patty Hogan, 43, far right, a nurse practitioner and emergency room nurse at Mercy Medical Center in Redding.
  • The Hogans of Cottonwood, reunited Tuesday, Dec. 22, following U.S. Army Major Eric Hogan's second year-long deployment to Iraq, pose for a family portrait as they start their Christmas holiday a bit early. From left, Elise, 15; Jared, 10; Eric (Dad), 47; Katie, 13; Peter, 8; and Patty, 43. 'Every day is Christmas when Eric is safe at home with us,' Mrs. Hogan told the Valley Post.
  • Santa Claus, played here by Vern Wilson of Cottonwood, hands a candy cane to Katie Hogan, 13, under the watchful eyes of Major Eric Hogan, who returned home several months earlier than expected following his second year-long deployment to Iraq. Changes in military policy since the election of President Barack Obama mean that soldiers deployed overseas return home after 12 months, including pre-deployment training and post-deployment debriefing, instead of the previous administration's standard 15-month hitch for a one year deployment, Patty Hogan explained.

The Hogan family of Cottonwood received an early gift Tuesday, Dec. 22, when U.S. Army Major Eric Hogan, 47, returned home several months sooner than expected from his second deployment in Iraq. He and wife, Patty, 43, decided to surprise the couple's four children with a large gift-wrapped appliance box containing their father under a Christmas tree at a church gift exchange held at a friend's house. Only a few special friends were in on the surprise, including photographer Michael Burke and his wife, Roxanne, who also happens to be Patty Hogan's best friend from high school days in Fresno.

Related Stories for Early Christmas for the Hogan family

Comments on this photo » 0

Be the first to post a comment!

Share your thoughts

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.

Comments can be shared on Facebook and Yahoo!. Add both options by connecting your profiles.

Features