Just in time to celebrate the holidays with family, Jacksonville native, Karl "Ken" Valine, returned to Alabama on Dec. 23 after nearly a year of working with the Afghan National Army (ANA) in Gardez, Afghanistan.

Valine, 57, is the son of Ernest and Margaret Valine of Jacksonville. He lives in Lacey's Spring.

For the past year, Valine, under contract with MPRI out of Alexandria, Va., has been a logistics mentor to the ANA, teaching members of the 203rd Thunder Corps how to organize and account for property. This is part of the effort in Afghanistan to train the ANA to be self-sufficient.

Shortly before leaving Afghanistan, Valine was made an ANA honorary colonel. In a ceremony Nov. 11, Afghan Maj. Gen. Abdul Khaliq, the 203rd Corps commander, awarded Valine the colonel rank insignia and a certificate.

The certificate reads, "I wish to extend to you my personal gratitude and appreciation for your outstanding performance as the MPRI ANA G-4 Mentor from 11 January to 15 December 2009. I am proud of your hard work and determination. Your contributions and assistance have been invaluable to the growth of the 203d Corps and you have planted the seeds for its future." The certificate is signed by Khaliq and Col. Saeed Alisha Kazimi, the 203rd Thunder Corps G-4.

Upon arriving in Huntsville, Valine and his family drove directly to Jacksonville to help Ernest celebrate his 90th birthday.