Local Army sergeant surprises niece

An Ammon girl got a heartwarming surprise at school this Veterans Day. Her military uncle arrived from Afghanistan and decided to surprise her.

Taylor Sato is a fourth-grader at Woodland Hills Elementary in Ammon. The school held an assembly Monday to honor veterans. Sato was asked to start the assembly by reading cue cards given to her. Not expecting it, she read this: “Please help us welcome my uncle.” Sato started to cry and then saw her uncle standing in front of her. Her uncle is Sgt. Cameron Sato. He was in Afghanistan for nine months.

“I started crying, I don’t know what I was feeling excitement, happiness, everything,” Taylor Sato said.

Sgt. Sato is a Pocatello native and he said he will be staying in eastern Idaho until he is called back to duty.

“It felt great to see my brother who is also serving in the military. It is definitely a special moment between us,” he said.

Sato’s job in the Army is to plan and coordinate movements throughout Afghanistan.