Gulfport High School alum earns combat badge

Photo By Spc. Paul Harris | Spc. Tara Grieves, water purification specialist, Co. A, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th infantry Division, Task Force Lightning, stands before the Striker Brigade's Colors on Forward Operating Base Warhorse, near Baqubah, Iraq.  

BAQUBAH, IRAQ

10.10.2006

Story by Spc. Paul Harris 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

by Pfc. Paul J. Harris
3rd HBCT, 4th ID PAO

BAQUBAH, Iraq (October 10, 2006) -- She chose to be a water purification specialist because she wanted a job that would not put her behind a desk and enable her to be outside, giving her an opportunity to get out and see the world.

Spc. Tara Grieves, water purification specialist, Company A, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th infantry Division, Task Force Lightning, had never been outside the continental U.S. before she deployed to Iraq with the Striker Brigade from Fort Carson, Colo., in late 2005.

"I really did not know what to expect," Grieves said about her first impression upon arriving into Iraq. "(It's) not as bad as everybody thinks."

The Gulfport High School alum heard stories from Soldiers who deployed in 2003 to Iraq and the scarce living conditions they faced upon arrival. That was hardly the case this time around with air-conditioned living quarters, hot showers and hot chow.

Though the amenities were better, the element of danger had risen from 2003. Grieves' job was to routinely drive fuel or water trucks from Forward Operating Base Warhorse to nearby bases. On a recent patrol the drive became anything but routine.

A roadside bomb detonated behind the truck she was in, barely missing the main fuel lines, throwing smoke and debris everywhere making it almost impossible to see if the truck behind her was OK. No one was hurt in the blast and after the adrenaline rush passed, Grieves said the incident provided a sense of confidence.

"I was actually relived it happened," she said. "I know how it feels to be hit and now I can move on."

For her actions on contact with the enemy Grieves was awarded the Combat Action Badge. She was humbled by the award and insisted she was doing her job as expected and initially did not want a ceremonial fuss to be made.

"I was glad they did one though, it made me feel proud (to receive the award)," Grieves said. "I was just glad it wasn't a Purple Heart."

She called her parents to tell them what had happened; her father was excited to hear her story while her mother was not as enthused.

"My mom tries to react OK on the phone but when she gets off the phone she (freaks out)," Grieves said.

Her father Daniel coaches basketball at Gulfport High School and was supportive of her decision to join the Army knowing the discipline would give her a strong foundation early in her career; her mother was not as convinced.

"My mom did not think I would go through with it, she thought I would get to MEPS and come home the next day," Grieves said.

The Military Entrance Processing Station is where recruits go to begin the long matriculation process before enlisting in the military. Her mother has since come around to the idea of her being in the military, though she still worries but is also very proud of her daughter.

With her first deployment to Iraq winding down, Grieves is looking forward to returning to the Gulfport area and see the improvements that had been made since her last time home in November 2005. At that time, Hurricane Katrina was still a fresh memory.

"It was like a war zone, it was really bad," Grieves said. "We went to see our old house in Bay St. Louis and it was just a slab, there was nothing there."

Being a daughter of high school basketball coach is similar to being an Army brat; she explained referring to the five schools she attended since the start of junior high.

Grieves is happy her parents have settled for now in Gulfport and cannot wait to see her family and visit friends while hanging out the beach that is a stones throw from her parent's current home. She is considering making Mississippi home after her enlistment is complete and plans to attend college on the Montgomery G.I. Bill.

• Date Taken: 10.10.2006
• Date Posted: 10.10.2006 10:16
• Story ID: 7970
• Location: BAQUBAH, IQ