It was the emotional moment these soldiers had dreamed of for nine months in Afghanistan: to finally be dismissed so they could see their families. But as they dutifully waited in line to receive orders, three-year-old Cooper Waldvogel took charge. Ignoring the strict military protocol, he ran up to the troops and into the arms of his mom Kathryn, a member of the National Guard. Scroll down for video Heart-warming: Kathryn Waldvogel, 25, dropped her military stance to cuddle three-year-old Connor after returning to Chisholm, Minnesota, from a nine-month tour with the National Guard in Afghanistan on Tuesday The line of uniformed officers from Chisholm, Minnesota, tried desperately to keep straight faces as the touching display reduced many to tearful smiles and laughter.
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National Guard of Chisholm, Minn., ordered not to talk to family on arrival
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They stood awaiting orders after returning from 9-month Afghanistan tour
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But Connor Waldvogel, 3, reduced line to smiles as he rushed to hug mom
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It is the first time in 18 months both his military parents are together
Ecstatic: Kathryn said she could not stop thinking about @placeholder as she got closer to being discharged