FORT CARSON, COLO. -- More soldiers returned home after a year long deployment to Afghanistan.

About 300 Fort Carson soldiers from the First Brigade Combat Team, Raider Brigade, returned to the Mountain Post earlier Wednesday afternoon.

During their deployment they worked to rebuild Afghanistan's infrastructure and strengthen state operations.

Troops said it's a huge relief to be back home.

"Lots of burdens get lifted off the shoulders, and you can finally get back to a normal life," Sgt. Matthew Snyder, a Fort Carson soldier, said.

But for some, getting back to a "normal life" is harder than for others.

"We were doing a deliberant clearance of a certain village in the Arghandab River Valley, and we were clearing through an alley, and my squad leader went to the left side of it, and my other mine sweeper went to the right side, and I was clearing down the middle," Spc. Lonnie Gaudet, a Fort Carson soldier, said. "There was a second alley off of it, to the left, and I went to double check that one, and when I came back and started heading toward the other two I stepped on land mine,"

Gaudet has been hospitalized in two separate explosions, the last one took his foot.

"I was lucky, I was very fortunate," Gaudet said. "There was like a 12 pound jug of HME attached to it that happened to not "det" so I'm just very fortunate to just be missing what I am."

Wednesday Gaudet and other injured Fort Carson soldiers were reunited with their brigade at the Mountain Post.

"It's nice to see them come back in good health," Gaudet said.

Gaudet spent time in San Antonio going through rehab and said he was surrounded by soldiers who were in worse shape than him.

"You couldn't imagine seeing the guys there that have been burnt, and are missing arms, and the things that they can do," Gaudet said.

He said he learned to never give up trying to get better.

"It's too easy to get back on your feet, regardless if they're real or fake, as long as you have the heart and will to push on it's just one day at a time and one step forward," he said.

Gaudet said he loves the military, but after two close calls it's time to end this chapter of his military career.

"I'm gonna stay home with the family and just try to be a good dad," he said

This is the second wave of soldiers to return home this week.

About 350 Fort Carson soldiers came home Tuesday night, and even more are expected to return later this week.