Jessamine soldiers return home after Afghanistan tour of duty

“We did a really good job at trying to be safe, and we had a really good intel sergeant, so we were able to know when we could move and things like that,” Corson said. “Being there, there’s always dangers; there is always a chance of (getting attacked), and there’s always a chance of getting shot at when you’re outside the wire (off the base).”

Presently, both Campbell — a lieutenant with the Nicholasville Fire Department — and Corson — a full-time active guard reserve — are now adjusting to life stateside.

Campbell said his time in the war-torn country helped him look at things much differently and it has been an adjustment now that he’s back in the states.

“There’s people over there that have little kids in these villages that are running around about half naked in this (30-degree) weather, and they’ll eat a little smidgen of something every day and they’re happy; that’s their way of life,” Campbell said. “We’re over here, and because our wireless Internet goes down, or the cable TV won’t pick up the game you want to watch, we’re having a fit and the blood pressure is going out the roof.

“My favorite adjustment is simply being able to sit in my own bathroom and not have to go to a port-a-potty. Most soldiers over there on these FOBs (Forward Operating Bases) are having to use campground-type facilities, something you’d only use by necessity in a remote situation here.”

Being in the military, there is always a chance the two will be called once again to serve their country overseas. But Campbell, a 23-year veteran, says his “touring” days are over.

“Unless there’s some unforeseen issue that comes up — it would have to be a pretty drastic issue,” Campbell said. “That was a kind of a mandate from (his wife) Dixie. We came to this agreement in the midst of our deployment that we’re not doing this again.”

Corson, a 17-year veteran, agreed.

“I volunteered for both deployments, so my hope is that I won’t have to go back before I retire,” she said. “I am very proud to serve my country, and not everyone gets the chance to do that.”

Corson said while the sacrifice of serving is great, it’s also worth it.

“Even though the sacrifice of leaving our children and our families is very great, the time we’ve given to them is invaluable,” she said.