A U.S. soldier who recently returned from a deployment in Afghanistan got back into uniform, but this time in the uniform of a medieval knight in order to surprise his two stepchildren.

Staff Sgt. Devain Lee has been deployed since November, his sixth deployment in nine years. When he returned home to New Jersey earlier this month, Lee decided to surprise 10-year-old Troy and 7-year-old Alayna, his two stepchildren, both of whom call Lee their dad.

When Troy and Alayna visited the Medieval Times restaurant in Lyndhurst, N.J., Thursday, they watched as a knight-in-shining-armor rode into the arena.

It was only after that knight lifted his headpiece that they discovered the "knight" was Lee.

"It made me feel really happy inside because he was back," Troy told WCBS-TV.

Lee, who did not reply to ABCNews.com's requests for comment, described the big reveal as "unbelievable."

"Like just seeing their faces, like when they finally recognized me," Lee told WCBS. "It took a couple seconds, but once it hit them who was actually in front of them, it was a pretty unbelievable moment."

Also on hand for the reunion was the children's mother, and Lee's wife, Shivonne Probeck.

"I knew they would be surprised but to see it happening was awesome," Probeck said.