Serving the country is all in the Holub family
Tamra Holub, a 19-year-old soldier in the U.S. Army Reserves, clearly understands her mission in Iraq and why she's there.
Holub and her parents, Dan and Rhonda Holub of rural Marion, have been corresponding through phone calls and e-mail messages since Tamra's deployment in March.
"Tamra was getting ready to start her first day of school at Hutchinson Community College when she got the word to report for duty," said Dan Holub.
She spent a week in Kuwait before going to central Iraq.
"We get e-mails from her on a daily basis and the occasional phone call," said Dan Holub. "She just called last night (April 14).
"We'll hear of bombings and fatalities in a certain area and she always e-mails us to tell us she's OK," said Dan.
Tamra has her own personal laptop computer but Dan said the military furnishes laptops for military personnel.
"Iraq is 10 hours ahead of us," explained Dan. "She e-mails us every evening when she's back in her tent."
Tamra, a Marion High School 2002 graduate, joined the Army Reserves two years ago.
She completed basic and job training in November and returned home. She had been living in Hutchinson and was planning to go to school.
Dan is familiar with what Tamra is experiencing. He was in the Navy for 20 years, retiring in 1988.
Dan and Rhonda have two other children in active duty — son Chris is in the Marine Corps and daughter Heather is in the Army.
The Holub's youngest daughter Molly is a senior at MHS and has joined the Army.
"Rhonda and I made a conscious decision not to push it (military interest)," said Dan. "I think they're interested because they know the price paid for Desert Storm."
Dan added he was surprised when Chris joined but not the other children.
"The girls joined for the education benefits," added the elder Holub.
Tamra will be deployed for one year.
Chris will be deployed to the Persian Gulf and had previously served in Iraq.
Heather serves on the DMZ (demilitarized zone) in Korea.
Dan is proud of his children and knows they are doing what they believe in.
"They know there's a price to pay for freedom," Dan said.
Addresses
CPL Holub, Chris: VMFA214 ORDNANCE, VIC 41017, FPO AP 96614-1017
SPEC Holub, Heather: 106 MED DET, UNIT 15361, APO AP 96258
CPL Holub, Tamra L.: 369th TC, 7th TC BN, LSA ANACONDA, APO AE 09391
