Sometimes, the prime of our youth, we set goals and make promises that we believe will set the right tone for the future we want. But what most of us forget is that things don’t always work out the way we plan.

Life has many surprises waiting for us.

Gary Barnes is a 78-year-old Vietnam veteran residing in California.

Gary was once young and adamant about certain things that would shape his tomorrows. Part of these plans involved not having children. He did stick with the plan all his life until one day, he got a very big surprise.

See, throughout Gary Barnes’ service in Vietnam, he often spent his free time in the Philippines, just exploring area. For a single male soldier, this also meant seeking the company of women.

And so he met a wonderful woman, but they had to bid farewell when he was called back to his service.

Little did he know, however, he had gotten the woman pregnant.

From this event stemmed a young woman’s quest to discover more about her ethnicity years later.

Olivia Robles always knew she was born in the Philippines, but that was about it.

That’s why she was set on finding out more. Through her patience and efforts, she was able to connect with a distant cousin who gladly helped. Together, they were able to piece things together.

And that’s when Barnes received that fateful call.

The person on the other end had an invitation for the veteran – to undergo a DNA test to see if Olivia was his daughter.

Olivia mused,

“For individuals who have always had their parents all their lives, it’s just something a lot of people really take for granted. You have that longing.”

The results came back and Olivia didn’t hesitate any longer.

She flew to California to finally meet her real dad.

The reunion was nothing short of heartwarming.

Barnes was ecstatic to learn that he also had three grandsons and a great-grandson.

Eager to learn more about each other and spend time as a family, Barnes and Robles even decided to spend Christmas together in Tampa.

It was quite a shock for Barnes but it was one he welcomed with open arms.

From always living life on his own terms to meeting the family he never knew he had, the happy veteran now shares in building new memories with Olivia and her sons despite their age. This included pinning his grandson’s first badge.

How incredible that the moment was shared between two soldiers.

Olivia’s job also allowed them the opportunity to be with each other often.

Barnes declared,

“More important than anything in life there is family.”

He couldn’t be more right about that one! It’s nice to know that there will always be ways to reconnect with family, regardless of the circumstances. Moreover, it’s comforting to learn that despite hindrances, people still choose family over everything else. After all, the best thing to have in life is the presence of family who loves and supports you.

Check out their wonderful story below.

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Source: YouTube – CBS Sacramento, WTSP, Facebook – Olivia Robles Mauger