Marine Corps dad surprises daughters at their East Setauket school

William Schumacher, a gunnery sergeant, returned home from Somalia deployment to reunite with his two young daughters.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:00am

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of two blurred figures embracing in a warm, sunlit setting, conveying the emotional reunion of a military family.A heartwarming reunion between a Marine father and his two young daughters after months of deployment brings joy and relief to a Long Island school community.East Setauket Today

William Schumacher, a Marine gunnery sergeant who has been deployed to Somalia since September, surprised his two young daughters Mia and Madison at their elementary school in East Setauket, New York. The emotional reunion, coordinated by the girls' teachers, left the sisters in tears as they hugged their father for the first time in months.

Why it matters

Deployments can be especially difficult for military families, especially when young children are involved. This heartwarming reunion highlights the sacrifices made by service members and their families, and the joy of being reunited after long separations.

The details

Schumacher, who has spent 21 years in the Marines and done two prior deployments to Iraq, has been working in "human intelligence" in Somalia, a country the U.S. Department of State rates as "Level 4: Do Not Travel" due to risks like kidnappings and bombings. The girls' teachers, Allison Babb and Tamryn Rosener, coordinated to get Mia and Madison to the school lobby to meet their father after his monthslong deployment.

  • Schumacher has been stationed in Somalia since September 2025.
  • Schumacher returned to Long Island on Thursday, April 17, 2026.

The players

William Schumacher

A gunnery sergeant in the Marine Corps who has been deployed to Somalia since September 2025.

Mia

Schumacher's third-grade daughter.

Madison

Schumacher's kindergarten-age daughter.

Allison Babb

Mia's third-grade teacher who coordinated the reunion.

Tamryn Rosener

Madison's kindergarten teacher who coordinated the reunion.

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What they’re saying

“It was amazing. It was absolutely amazing. I got to see them a few times on FaceTime and video chats, but seeing them in person is just amazing.”

— William Schumacher, Marine gunnery sergeant

“Ms. Babb told me that Maddy's tummy was hurting. Then, when they were blocking the door, I thought it was going to be Uncle Mikey. I didn't know it was going to be him.”

— Mia

“Mia had been waiting for this moment the entire year. She's been talking about the day her dad is going to come home all year long. It was an amazing experience for everybody.”

— Allison Babb, Third grade teacher

“The moment was a big surprise and Maddy is the most sunshiny, giggly, happy child there ever was. She's just a ray of sunshine in the room at all times.”

— Tamryn Rosener, Kindergarten teacher

What’s next

Schumacher plans to spend time with his family after his deployment, though he is unsure if he will be deployed again in the future.

The takeaway

This emotional reunion highlights the sacrifices made by military families, especially when young children are involved. The joy and relief of being reunited after a long deployment is a powerful reminder of the human cost of service.