Iowa Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Peter Bieber to present Memorial Day address in Waukon

Staff Sergeant Peter J. Bieber of the 1133rd Transportation Company, Iowa Army National Guard will serve as featured speaker at the 2015 Memorial Day Observance Program being held at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon Monday, May 25. He is the son of James and Sue Bieber of Waukon and the late Julie Bieber, and a 1990 graduate of Waukon High School.
Monday’s program at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon will commence following the traditional parade that begins at 9:45 a.m. in front of the Allamakee County Courthouse and marches its way to the cemetery. In the event of rain, the program will be held at the Waukon Banquet Center.

PARADE GRAND MARSHALS
This year's Co-Grand Marshals for the Memorial Day Parade will be representatives from the Allamakee County Sheriff's Department, Waukon Police Department, Waterville Fire Department and EMTs, Waukon Fire Department and Veterans Memorial Hospital Paramedics. Allamakee County Veterans Affairs Director Heather Homewood explains, "Traditionally, the Grand Marshal has been someone we honor for their military service to their country and local community. It is with this spirit that we not only honor, but show our appreciation for both active and retired members of these organizations. Often these organizations are taken for granted until such time that we dial 911. It is at these times that we not only realize the importance of these organizations but the importance of all members of our community being involved."
All Veterans are encouraged to participate, a ride will be provided for those Veterans unable to walk the parade route to the cemetery. Anyone wishing to enter a unit in the parade or seeking more information on the Memorial Day program in Waukon should contact Heather Homewood at the Allamakee County Veterans Affairs Office at 563-568-6135.
Volunteers are also needed to help set up the Avenue of Flags Saturday, May 23, beginning at 7 a.m.

U.S.S. WAINWRIGHT MOBILE MUSEUM
Memorial Day activities in Waukon will include a special visitor this year, as a mobile museum exhibiting the history of the U.S.S. Wainwright will make a stop during a tour of the Midwest. The traveling museum houses assorted artifacts from its U.S. Navy warship namesake and provides a history of the ship and its activities while in service to the United States.
During its visit to Waukon, the traveling museum will be parked in the initial block of First Avenue NW along the south edge of the Allamakee County Courthouse property. The museum will be opened to the general public according to the following schedule:
Saturday, May 23 - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, May 24 - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Monday, May 25 - Following the Memorial Day Parade.

FEATURED SPEAKER
Staff Sergeant Peter J. Bieber is the son of James and Sue Bieber of Waukon and the late Julie Bieber. He is a 1990 graduate of Waukon High School and a 1995 graduate of Iowa State University.
While attending Iowa State, Bieber also developed an interest in fire service and emergency medical services (EMS). He completed both the EMT-Ambulance program at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames and went on to complete the Paramedic program two years later. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Iowa State University in May of 1995.
Bieber chose a career in EMS and began working for Midwest Ambulance Service in the summer of 1995. He then moved to Fairfield and began working for the county ambulance service in January of 1996. In June of 1996, Bieber joined the Iowa Army National Guard as a Combat Medic and became a member of the 134th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance), 109th Medical Battalion, based in Washington. He went on to complete Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He served two years with the 134th Medical Company.
Following a move to Mason City to work for Snell’s Ambulance Service, Bieber transferred to Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division of the Minnesota National Guard in Albert Lea, MN, where he served the next four years as an infantry line medic. In December of 1998, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
In 2002, Bieber re-enlisted for another three years and transferred back to the Iowa National Guard where he joined the 1133rd Transportation Company based in Mason City. He was re-classified a Motor Transport Operator and was called to active duty with the 1133rd in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in January of 2003. The 1133rd would go on to complete over 2.7 million mission miles in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The unit was also repeatedly exposed to numerous mortar attacks while stationed at LOG Base Seitz, Iraq. January 7, 2004, a mortar round struck the 1133rd’s barracks, seriously injuring 11 members of the unit. February 5, 2004, while returning from a mission, the truck Bieber was riding in incurred a direct hit from an enemy mortar - seriously wounding him and killing his good friend and truck partner, Specialist Joshua L. Knowles, age 23, of Sheffield.
April 17, 2004, Bieber was awarded the Purple Heart. Following his release from active duty, Bieber resumed his career in EMS, this time as a new member of the Mason City Fire Department.
Bieber made a full recovery from his injuries and re-enlisted for another six years in the Guard. In February of 2005, he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. In the fall of 2008, the 1133rd was deployed once again to the Iraq theater of operations, this time with their sister unit, the 1168th Transportation Company. The combined units would again accumulate an additional 2.3 million mission miles with no losses or injuries to enemy action.
SSG Bieber’s awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal,  the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Iowa Commendation Medal, the Armed Services Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the State of Iowa Service Ribbon and the Mississippi State Service Ribbon.

In November of 2011, Bieber, along with two members of the Mason City Fire Department and four members of the Mason City Police Department, received the Sullivan Brothers Award of Valor from the Governor of Iowa - the highest recognition given to law enforcement, firefighters and EMS professionals in the state of Iowa – for their efforts in rescuing three teens trapped in a submerged vehicle in the Winnebago River in October of 2010.
In April of 2015, Bieber was selected ahead of his peers to become the new incoming Platoon Sergeant for Detachment 1, 2nd Platoon, 1133rd Transportation Company in Iowa City. He will assume those duties officially July 16 of this year and will be promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class at that time.
Bieber is married to the former Kristina Platts of Mason City. They have two sons, Noah, age 13, and Joshua, age nine. They reside on an acreage near Rockford.