Corporal Lee Marshall, 24, flew back to a heroes' welcome on Tuesday in Warminster, Wiltshire, where the 3rd battalion Yorkshire Regiment are based.
The former Holgate pupil, who has been in the army seven years, went to the Helmand province in February.
The regiment suffered tragedy weeks into their tour when six soldiers from their base were killed by a roadside bomb.
But speaking to Chronicle reporter Kate Pickles last month, Lee said he was proud of the regiments' achievements, in particular the 300kg of fertiliser explosives.
"It could have killed a lot of people, whether it was us, the Americans the Afghan national security force, it's great to stop it happening."
