A soldier surprised his family by convincing them he was still abroad in Afghanistan before arriving home with a blaring police escort of flashing lights and sirens. National Guardsman SPC Liam Farrell, 22, had been serving in Afghanistan for nine months before his unit returned to the US. But due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, he was quarantined in barracks at Ft. Bliss, Texas, for a fortnight. He used the time to begin planning a dramatic return home to lift the spirts of his family and friends in Evergreen Park, Illinois. And once given the all-clear he headed home to surprise his family with the help of the local Police Department.