only on decorahnews.com: Five months after returning home, life is returning to normal for the soldiers of the 322d Engineering Company

On deployment in Afghanistan

Soldiers from the 322nd Engineering Company returned to Decorah from Afghanistan on January 10th.  That means they've had nearly five months to adjust to life back in the United States.

Andrew Hageman of Ft. Atkinson says he's been enjoying "normal life."  Ossian resident Jason Gerleman agrees, saying "You don't take stuff for granted."  He has been hanging out with family and friends--and recently learned he and his wife are going to have a child.

Devin Creek of Decorah says his son, who was a youngster when the Afghanistan deployment began, now has a personality of his own.  Creek says he enjoys spending time "chilling out" with his son.

Ossian resident Cody Heying says it's true that you take less for granted after returning home from a deployment.  He is celebrating getting a new job with Caterpillar in Elkader, while Miles Johanningmeyer of Harpers Ferry has a new job at Bruening Rock Products.

Sometimes the things that others might take for granted are the things the returning soldiers appreciate most.  Ridgeway resident Luke Wilkins says he's already gone to a couple of baseball games.  And Brandon Albertson of rural Fort Atkinson says Northeast Iowa is a lot less dusty than Afghanistan.  "The weather's good.  My daughter's good," he concludes.

Brandon Albertson of rural Fort Atkinson