Sgt. Peter Bieber is Parade Grand Marshal

Sergeant Peter James Bieber is the son of James and Sue Bieber of Waukon, and the late Julie Bieber. He attended school in Waukon and graduated from Waukon Senior High School in 1990. Following graduation from Waukon Senior High, Bieber attended Iowa State University in Ames, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
While at Iowa State University, he also began studying for a career in Emergency Medical Services and completed the Emergency Medical Technician-Ambulance and Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic programs at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames.
Following graduation from Iowa State University, Bieber chose a career in Emergency Medical Services and began working for Midwest Ambulance Service in Des Moines in July of 1995. In January of 1996, he began working for RMMS Ambulance Service in Fairfield. While in Fairfield, Bieber joined the Iowa Army National Guard's 134th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance) based in Washington. He completed Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training as a 91B Combat Medic at Fort Jackson, SC between October 1996 and February 1997. In September 1997, he moved to Mason City and began working as a paramedic for Snell's Ambulance Service. He transferred his National Guard status to Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment of the Minnesota Army National Guard based in Albert Lea. In December of 1998, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
Bieber has worked continuously as a Paramedic for ten years and also worked at the North Central Iowa Chapter of the American Red Cross as Program Administrator from 2000 to 2002. In February of 2002, he transferred National Guard units again, this time to join the 1133rd Transportation Company of the Iowa National Guard, based in Mason City. In January of 2003, the 1133rd was called to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and would take part in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The 1133rd Transportation arrived in Kuwait April 10, 2003. Throughout the war and during the rebuilding phase, the 1133rd would accumulate approximately 2.3 million miles hauling supplies throughout Kuwait and Iraq. Initially based at Camp Victory in Kuwait, the unit moved to Log Base Seitz, near Baghdad, Iraq, in October of 2003. The 1133rd would endure repeated rocket, rocket-propelled grenade, small arms and mortar attacks while at Log Base Seitz. January 7, 2004, a mortar round struck the 1133rd's barracks and injured 11 soldiers.
Upon returning from a mission February 5, 2004, an enemy mortar round struck the cab of the truck Sergeant Bieber was riding in, seriously wounding him and killing his good friend and truck partner, Specialist Joshua Lincoln Knowles, of Sheffield. Sergeant Bieber was evacuated from theater and recuperated in the United States at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX.
Sergeant Bieber's awards include the Order of the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Unit Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, the Global War On Terror Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Iowa Army Commendation Medal, the Armed Services Ribbon, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the Forward Support Package Ribbon.
In civilian life, Sergeant Bieber is currently employed as a Paramedic/Firefighter with the Mason City Fire Department. He is married to Kristina (Platts) of Mason City. They have a son, Noah, who is now two years old, and currently reside in Nora Springs.