The son of a Bermudian taxi driver, Kory Smith had to get to grips with mayhem on Afghanistan’s roads as a truck driver with the United States Army.Pfc Smith, 24, a former West Pembroke Primary pupil and son of Sandys resident Leslie Smith, last month completed a nine-month stint in the war-torn nation in a transportation unit.He described his experience as a learning curve, living in tents with very basic bathrooms and showers while transporting military vehicles from one base to another in treacherous driving conditions.“Being in Afghanistan was a learning experience, something different,” he said.“We did missions every other night. Sometimes I enjoyed it, at other times I got old real quick.“They have no rules of the road over there. They have speed limits and that’s pretty much it.“People drive how they want, so we did much the same. You have to keep up with the cowboys. At first I was like, what am I doing, but after a few near misses I got used to it.”Mr Smith has been based in Dover, Delaware, since leaving Bermuda with his family 15 years ago; he has a son, Rees, aged four, who lives with his mother.He spoke to The Royal Gazette after his mother Janine Alicea contacted us to say his family is planning his 25th birthday celebrations following his safe return home last week.Sister Saphria Gibbons said: “It is a blessing to have him home safely and that we are able to celebrate with him, I am very proud of him.”Asked why he joined the army, Mr Smith said: “It was a difficult decision. My son was born and I was trying to make a better life for myself and my son.“If I hadn’t had my son I would probably have gone back to Bermuda to serve in the Regiment, but I wanted to stay in the National Guard in Delaware to be close to him.”