CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Not many people can say that they've dedicated their entire lives to serving their community both locally and overseas, and even fewer can say that they enjoy it as much as Charleston Police Officer Cpl. Troy VanHorn.

Since he was a kid, VanHorn knew that he wanted to be a police officer, but the path that led him to serve the city of Charleston had some pit stops -- first a deployment in Iraq, then a more recent tour in Afghanistan that took VanHorn away from the department's bike unit until the end of September.

VanHorn joined the U.S. Army when he graduated from high school in Braxton County, and served overseas in both Desert Storm and Desert Shield as a radio operator and a third-generation paratrooper -- following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father.

VanHorn served in the Army Reserves until 2001, when he decided to focus more on his career as a police officer. However, he didn't stay out of the Army for long.

"I knew I had to go back," he said.

So on Sept. 11, 2008, he re-enlisted with the Army Reserves out of Kenova.

No sooner had he done that than he was given his marching orders and left in January 2009 on his second tour, to a small base outside of Kabul, Afghanistan.

However, he had a little bit of catching up to do before he left.

"All of the equipment was so much better the second tour," he said. And far more advanced. VanHorn had to brush up on lots of skills to bring himself up to speed on some of the new radios and technology the Army is using.

As a radio operator, VanHorn manned the base radio stations and ran various convoy missions. Sometimes, he was the rear gunner on some trucks when they went into smaller towns. Luckily, his unit did not run into any major fighting.

Being in some of the small towns in Afghanistan made VanHorn really appreciate home.

"It's a dirty country," he said. "Not like here."

He said he would see children walking along, with no parents and no shoes, pushing a wheelbarrow with all of their possessions.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Not many people can say that they've dedicated their entire lives to serving their community both locally and overseas, and even fewer can say that they enjoy it as much as Charleston Police Officer Cpl. Troy VanHorn.

Since he was a kid, VanHorn knew that he wanted to be a police officer, but the path that led him to serve the city of Charleston had some pit stops -- first a deployment in Iraq, then a more recent tour in Afghanistan that took VanHorn away from the department's bike unit until the end of September.

VanHorn joined the U.S. Army when he graduated from high school in Braxton County, and served overseas in both Desert Storm and Desert Shield as a radio operator and a third-generation paratrooper -- following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father.

VanHorn served in the Army Reserves until 2001, when he decided to focus more on his career as a police officer. However, he didn't stay out of the Army for long.

"I knew I had to go back," he said.

So on Sept. 11, 2008, he re-enlisted with the Army Reserves out of Kenova.

No sooner had he done that than he was given his marching orders and left in January 2009 on his second tour, to a small base outside of Kabul, Afghanistan.

However, he had a little bit of catching up to do before he left.

"All of the equipment was so much better the second tour," he said. And far more advanced. VanHorn had to brush up on lots of skills to bring himself up to speed on some of the new radios and technology the Army is using.

As a radio operator, VanHorn manned the base radio stations and ran various convoy missions. Sometimes, he was the rear gunner on some trucks when they went into smaller towns. Luckily, his unit did not run into any major fighting.

Being in some of the small towns in Afghanistan made VanHorn really appreciate home.

"It's a dirty country," he said. "Not like here."

He said he would see children walking along, with no parents and no shoes, pushing a wheelbarrow with all of their possessions.

"I'd be like 'what is this?'" he said.

Unlike children in Charleston, who gravitate to the bike cops, most children he encountered in Afghanistan were wary of the soldiers, but eventually warmed up to them.

Children in Charleston often joke around with the officer.

"Kids will roll up to us and say 'you want to race?'" he said.

Memories like that are one of the reasons VanHorn kept telling his Army buddies that he wanted to get back to Charleston and go back to work.

"The guys would make fun of me for that," he said. "They said 'we don't usually hear that a lot.' But I was ready to come home. I love them both, but I was ready to get back to work."

VanHorn is not the only Charleston officer who recently served overseas.

Seven city officers are overseas right now, said Chief Brent Webster.

While many officers in the CPD have had prior military service, Webster said it takes a special type of person to serve both their country and their community.

"It's says a lot about someone who is very service oriented," Webster said. "People that are willing to do both ... it's something special and should be recognized."

VanHorn plans on retiring from the military when his enlistment is up in a few years, with almost 17 years of service under his belt. Leaving the Army is something VanHorn knows will be hard, but he's ready to stay in Charleston.

"I really love it here," he said. "I'm glad to be back."

Reach Kathryn Gregory at kathr...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5119.