CLEAR LAKE – The Clear Lake Fire Department will be hosting a 9/11 Memorial on Tuesday September 11th, 2018 outside the Clear Lake Fire station at the World Trade Center Memorial Steel. The event will include music by the Clear Lake High School Band, a flag raising ceremony, placement of the helmets ceremony, and a guest speaker. This year’s guest speaker is Sergeant First Class and Mason City Fire Fighter/Paramedic Peter J. Bieber.
Tentative Schedule
5:30 – Music by the High School Band
6:00 – Flag Raising and National Anthem
6:15 – Helmet Ceremony
6:30 – Guest Speaker
Guest Speak SFC Peter J. Bieber Biography:
SFC Peter J. Bieber
1133rd Transportation Company, Iowa Army National Guard
Sergeant First Class 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 Senior High School and a 1995 graduate of Iowa State University. While attending Iowa State, Bieber also developed an interest in the fire service and Emergency Medical Services. 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, Iowa 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, Iowa. 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 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 OIF. The unit was also repeatedly exposed to numerous mortar attacks while stationed at LOG Base Seitz, Iraq. On January 7th, 2004, a mortar round struck the 1133rd’s barracks, seriously injuring eleven members of the unit. On February 5th, 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 of Sheffield. SPC Knowles was 23. On April 17th, 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 of 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, known informally as the 3368th Transportation Company, would again accumulate an additional 2.3 million mission miles with no losses or injuries to enemy action.
SFC 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 by 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 teenagers 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 Platoon Sergeant for Detachment 1, 2nd Platoon, 1133rd Transportation Company in Iowa City. He assumed those duties officially on 16 July 2015 and was 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 15, and Joshua, age 12. They reside on an acreage near Rockford, Iowa.
