After 20 Years, Marine Surprised By Battle Buddies For 40th Birthday

A Marine was left in shock when he opened his front door on his 40th birthday and was surprised by his battle buddies from across the country – some of whom he hadn't seen for around two decades. Shane Highley, from Barboursville, West Virginia, enlisted in the Marines right after 9/11, before heading to Yorktown Naval Weapon Station, Yorktown, Virginia, with 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Company 7th platoon (2nd Fast), in 2002. During that time Shane made bonds with fellow Marines who he says are more like brothers to him than friends. After their service, Shane and his fellow Marines went their separate ways, with his battle buddies across the country in the likes of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New York and Texas. But ahead of his 40th, Shane's long-term girlfriend, Sophie Voelkel, wanted to plan something special for the big milestone – during which time she realized he’d never been given a surprise party. Having never met any of Shane's Marine buddies, Sophie thought this would be a perfect opportunity to plan both a surprise and to get the group together again. She reached out to one of Shane's battle buddies, Sergeant Kirby Ziesmer, and asked if he could help coordinate the rest of the unit, to see who might be available. Ahead of the surprise, six Marines had committed, and so on weekend of Shane's birthday, April 7, Sophie informed him he needed to get the house ready, as some people were heading over to help him celebrate. Shane suspected it might be his brothers or nephews, Sophie said – but he had no idea about what was about to happen.