Honoring those who serve: Tara Imhoff
February 2, 2022 at 9:56 p.m.
Honoring those who serve: Tara Imhoff
By Cyrus Johnson -
As a part of the Indiana National Guard, she would have different procedures than most soldiers. They live off-base and commute for duty one weekend per month. "We provided medical support to all the other units," Tara described. Nevertheless, the Indiana National Guard consists of 14,000 soldiers and airmen. They supplement military efforts and respond to emergencies in the states and around the globe. The Guard does their part to protect and are always ready at a moment's notice.
When asked why she joined the military, she replied, "I took off all by myself. I wanted to get out and see something else... I guess I considered myself a pretty tough gal growing up, so I thought I'd give the military a try." Tara was born and raised in Liberty; she is the daughter of Kelvin and Donna Beckman, and the youngest of five siblings - two brothers and two sisters. She graduated from UCHS in 1992.
In March 1994, Tara reported for basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. The base is located in the Ozark Mountains, near the city of St. Robert. Right away, she felt a few small-town anxieties. "I was 19-years-old, and it was my first time away from home," she admitted. Fort Leonard Wood is a massive installation that houses over 15,000 people and 2,500 families, more than double UC's population.
After a few weeks of acclimatization, she adjusted to the physical training and accepted the isolation. She said, "It was because I had to... It was tough, just like it was for everyone else. But you have to push and get through it; you do the best you can... Being away from my friends and family was the hardest part."
Those loved ones missed her just the same. "My family wrote letters all the time. They would keep me updated with what was going on in town talk about different TV shows; it was nice. Back then, mail was important," she described. The letters before lights out are the best part of a recruit's day.
Following basic, Tara went to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio for Advanced Individual Training (AIT) with the 232nd Medical Battalion. This base serves as the command headquarters for the Army Medical Department. "We were there in the heat of the summer, June to July," she remembered. Each day they bounced between PT and the classroom.
Naturally, being a part of the medical field, her AIT emphasized life-threatening care and emergency medical evacuations under combat duress. For prep, the National Guard conducts field exercises just like the regular Army. For example, Tara described carrying mock-patients across a simulated battlefield into a triage over 100 yards away. Then, under a time limit, she had to identify the injury and perform the proper treatment.
"We were trained how to pull wounded troops out of hot zones. Me and my buddies switched between the rescuer and the patient. We practiced medevac and urgent care. You're trained under fire, so to speak." Imhoff reiterated, "That's where all that PT comes into play."
She continued, "The military teaches you a lot of things really fast, under stressful situations. Essentially, they are training you to go into battle." In addition, her battalion was trained in humanitarian relief, focusing on disaster response. The National Guard has become a FEMA staple in recent years, deploying soldiers local and abroad.
In July 1995, Imhoff was assigned to the 149th MASH Division at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The base is four miles west of Edinburgh, only an hour and a half from Liberty.
"I would go home to my civilian life, then one weekend a month I would go to Camp Atterbury," Tara said. The base serves as a military and civilian training post under the auspices of the Indiana National Guard.
While on base, her unit assisted with regular medical duties. Furthermore, they practiced setting up mobile hospitals and performed maintenance on equipment and vehicles.
On assignment, her MASH platoon provided medical support for the 30th Infantry Division at Camp Grayling, Michigan. Camp Grayling is the largest National Guard training facility in the country. During the two weeks, her unit set up a provisional hospital and provided physicals to the soldiers and other basic support.
In June 1996, Tara was deployed to Walker Air Base in Roswell, New Mexico. Things stepped up a notch - She assisted with air operations. "That was the coolest place I went," she commented. Her unit worked as medical support during Roving Sands '96.
Roving Sands is the world's largest joint tactical air defense exercise, held annually. The experience gathers multinational allied forces to practice techniques and test procedures that improve artillery and aircraft capabilities. It involves servicemen and women from the U.S., Germany, Netherlands and Canada.
"At Roving Sands, we had an urgent care emergency unit with us, so we assisted them," Tara said. During deployment, she earned a certificate for outstanding service.
In May 1997, Imhoff was honorably discharged from the Indiana National Guard. "My military service gave me profound respect and admiration for all veterans, their families and our community," Tara stated.
As a result, she has been very active in veteran affairs. For the past two years, Tara has served as 2nd Vice Commander at the American Legion Post 122 in Liberty, a member for the past 11 years. Her primary duty is bar commander; she oversees the post's club aspects, including gaming, entertainment, and alcohol.
"Honestly, we don't have as much participation as we used to - It'd be nice to change that... A lot of people don't know what the Legion is or what it does," she said. Most people in town look at the Legion as just a bar; they aren't aware of its benevolence.
Historically, the American Legion is the nation's largest wartime veterans service organization. For over 100 years, the group has been responsible for mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome programs while advocating patriotism and honor. Liberty's Post 122 is always looking for new members. If you are a veteran interested in joining, contact the post at 458-5545.
When asked about their community outreach, Tara replied, "Gosh, we do so much. We donate money to charities, other organizations. We give scholarships to veterans' family members. Around the holidays, we buy gifts for the nursing home donate money to the food banks and clothes closet... We try to give to all the organizations here in town." She also gave special thanks to the Sons of the American Legion, the Auxiliary Unit, and the Legion Riders for volunteering efforts.
In closing, she added, "Even though we aren't on active duty, those of us at the American Legion continue our service - here, now - our mission is to better the community."
Tara tied the knot with Ryan Imhoff in May 1999. They have two children: Devon (24) and Megan (21). They still reside in Union County. Ryan works for Red Path Implement in Oxford. Since her discharge, Tara has stayed in the healthcare field. After working as a CNA for a nursing home in Oxford, she has been employed at Kettering Health for over 15 years – First working at the hospital in Hamilton, and currently working with the Oxford practice.
The Liberty Herald staff would like to say, "Thank you, to Tara Imhoff for your hard work with the Indiana National Guard. Thank you for volunteering at the Legion. We wish the best of luck for the Imhoff family with their future endeavors.”
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As a part of the Indiana National Guard, she would have different procedures than most soldiers. They live off-base and commute for duty one weekend per month. "We provided medical support to all the other units," Tara described. Nevertheless, the Indiana National Guard consists of 14,000 soldiers and airmen. They supplement military efforts and respond to emergencies in the states and around the globe. The Guard does their part to protect and are always ready at a moment's notice.
When asked why she joined the military, she replied, "I took off all by myself. I wanted to get out and see something else... I guess I considered myself a pretty tough gal growing up, so I thought I'd give the military a try." Tara was born and raised in Liberty; she is the daughter of Kelvin and Donna Beckman, and the youngest of five siblings - two brothers and two sisters. She graduated from UCHS in 1992.
In March 1994, Tara reported for basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. The base is located in the Ozark Mountains, near the city of St. Robert. Right away, she felt a few small-town anxieties. "I was 19-years-old, and it was my first time away from home," she admitted. Fort Leonard Wood is a massive installation that houses over 15,000 people and 2,500 families, more than double UC's population.
After a few weeks of acclimatization, she adjusted to the physical training and accepted the isolation. She said, "It was because I had to... It was tough, just like it was for everyone else. But you have to push and get through it; you do the best you can... Being away from my friends and family was the hardest part."
Those loved ones missed her just the same. "My family wrote letters all the time. They would keep me updated with what was going on in town talk about different TV shows; it was nice. Back then, mail was important," she described. The letters before lights out are the best part of a recruit's day.
Following basic, Tara went to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio for Advanced Individual Training (AIT) with the 232nd Medical Battalion. This base serves as the command headquarters for the Army Medical Department. "We were there in the heat of the summer, June to July," she remembered. Each day they bounced between PT and the classroom.
Naturally, being a part of the medical field, her AIT emphasized life-threatening care and emergency medical evacuations under combat duress. For prep, the National Guard conducts field exercises just like the regular Army. For example, Tara described carrying mock-patients across a simulated battlefield into a triage over 100 yards away. Then, under a time limit, she had to identify the injury and perform the proper treatment.
"We were trained how to pull wounded troops out of hot zones. Me and my buddies switched between the rescuer and the patient. We practiced medevac and urgent care. You're trained under fire, so to speak." Imhoff reiterated, "That's where all that PT comes into play."
She continued, "The military teaches you a lot of things really fast, under stressful situations. Essentially, they are training you to go into battle." In addition, her battalion was trained in humanitarian relief, focusing on disaster response. The National Guard has become a FEMA staple in recent years, deploying soldiers local and abroad.
In July 1995, Imhoff was assigned to the 149th MASH Division at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The base is four miles west of Edinburgh, only an hour and a half from Liberty.
"I would go home to my civilian life, then one weekend a month I would go to Camp Atterbury," Tara said. The base serves as a military and civilian training post under the auspices of the Indiana National Guard.
While on base, her unit assisted with regular medical duties. Furthermore, they practiced setting up mobile hospitals and performed maintenance on equipment and vehicles.
On assignment, her MASH platoon provided medical support for the 30th Infantry Division at Camp Grayling, Michigan. Camp Grayling is the largest National Guard training facility in the country. During the two weeks, her unit set up a provisional hospital and provided physicals to the soldiers and other basic support.
In June 1996, Tara was deployed to Walker Air Base in Roswell, New Mexico. Things stepped up a notch - She assisted with air operations. "That was the coolest place I went," she commented. Her unit worked as medical support during Roving Sands '96.
Roving Sands is the world's largest joint tactical air defense exercise, held annually. The experience gathers multinational allied forces to practice techniques and test procedures that improve artillery and aircraft capabilities. It involves servicemen and women from the U.S., Germany, Netherlands and Canada.
"At Roving Sands, we had an urgent care emergency unit with us, so we assisted them," Tara said. During deployment, she earned a certificate for outstanding service.
In May 1997, Imhoff was honorably discharged from the Indiana National Guard. "My military service gave me profound respect and admiration for all veterans, their families and our community," Tara stated.
As a result, she has been very active in veteran affairs. For the past two years, Tara has served as 2nd Vice Commander at the American Legion Post 122 in Liberty, a member for the past 11 years. Her primary duty is bar commander; she oversees the post's club aspects, including gaming, entertainment, and alcohol.
"Honestly, we don't have as much participation as we used to - It'd be nice to change that... A lot of people don't know what the Legion is or what it does," she said. Most people in town look at the Legion as just a bar; they aren't aware of its benevolence.
Historically, the American Legion is the nation's largest wartime veterans service organization. For over 100 years, the group has been responsible for mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome programs while advocating patriotism and honor. Liberty's Post 122 is always looking for new members. If you are a veteran interested in joining, contact the post at 458-5545.
When asked about their community outreach, Tara replied, "Gosh, we do so much. We donate money to charities, other organizations. We give scholarships to veterans' family members. Around the holidays, we buy gifts for the nursing home donate money to the food banks and clothes closet... We try to give to all the organizations here in town." She also gave special thanks to the Sons of the American Legion, the Auxiliary Unit, and the Legion Riders for volunteering efforts.
In closing, she added, "Even though we aren't on active duty, those of us at the American Legion continue our service - here, now - our mission is to better the community."
Tara tied the knot with Ryan Imhoff in May 1999. They have two children: Devon (24) and Megan (21). They still reside in Union County. Ryan works for Red Path Implement in Oxford. Since her discharge, Tara has stayed in the healthcare field. After working as a CNA for a nursing home in Oxford, she has been employed at Kettering Health for over 15 years – First working at the hospital in Hamilton, and currently working with the Oxford practice.
The Liberty Herald staff would like to say, "Thank you, to Tara Imhoff for your hard work with the Indiana National Guard. Thank you for volunteering at the Legion. We wish the best of luck for the Imhoff family with their future endeavors.”
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