Soldier surprises little brother, girlfriend with return to LI
A soldier returned home to Smithtown from basic training Thursday, surprising his little brother along the way. Justin Purnell, fresh off of 10 weeks of training at Fort Benning, Georgia, entered the
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Dec 23, 2016, 3:49 AM
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Updated 2,843 days ago
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A soldier returned home to Smithtown from basic training Thursday, surprising his little brother along the way.
Justin Purnell, fresh off of 10 weeks of training at Fort Benning, Georgia, entered the Tackan Elementary School lunchroom where he found his excited brother, Leo.
"Him running up to me and hugging me...makes me very happy after not seeing him for a while," says Purnell.
He says he and his brother were inseparable before he left for basic training.
Earlier in the day, Purnell also surprised his girlfriend, Kim Lawless.
"I went and attacked him and hugged him," she says. "I wasn't expecting it at all."
Purnell and Lawless were high school sweethearts at Smithtown East.
He says he will enjoy his two weeks off before heading back to Fort Benning for his final four weeks of basic training.
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