Army Soldier Travels 7k Miles, Surprises Cancer-Stricken Mother For Christmas

Last year was the first time that U.S. Army Pvt. First Class Patrick Konczal ever remembered not being with his family on Christmas. This year, with help near and far, he made a 7,000-mile trek to give his parents—including a cancer-stricken mother—a giant holiday surprise.

Konczal, a 74D and CBRN Specialist, is stationed at Camp Casey in South Korea as part of the 65th Medical Brigade (65th MED) within the 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion (MMB). Until recently he had not seen his parents and sister since July 2024, with the months in between including his mother being diagnosed with cancer. The deployment prevented Konczal from being able to leave Korea and tend to his mother, who was undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.

But that changed due to a familiar organization. Konczal was chosen by the American Red Cross Service to be the beneficiary of the holiday surprise, mobilizing U.S. Armed Forces staffers in the U.S. and Korea to bring him home. He was one of 26 U.S. service members nominated to receive the opportunity as part of the decade-old endeavor.