MONROE - Sometimes, children find themselves influenced by their parents in unexpected ways.
That was not the case for Monroe native Tasha Frie, who joined the U.S. Marines after she graduated high school in 2011, a move that mirrored both of her parents' choices when they reached adulthood.
"That was why I chose the Marine Corps out of all the branches, but as far as the military, I just wanted a challenge," Tasha said. "I wanted to see if I could do it."
But sometimes fate can also have a way of changing parents' intentions, hindering them from following through on plans they hoped to make into reality.
In Greenwood Cemetery in Brodhead a rectangular stone bears the name Sherri G. Frie, the words "Forever In Our Hearts" etched into the marker. Below, a metal plaque honors her time as a staff sergeant, serving for 12 years.
Born Sherri Cook, Staff Sgt. Frie was from Porterville, California, a small college town just under 20 miles west of the Sequoia National Forest. She eventually made her way to Hawaii, working in administration for the U.S. Marine headquarters building there. Sherri met Rob, a young messenger who had to make frequent trips to the office. The two connected, and in October 1990, the couple were wed in Rob's hometown of Brodhead.
Three years later, Sherri gave birth to Tasha. And just two years after that, the girl was riding in the family car with her mom in August 1995 when the vehicle was part of a collision. Sherri didn't survive the crash.
Since then, Tasha has known her mother mostly through photographs. A dated group shot taken to commemorate training graduation includes Sherri in a sepia tone. The banner carried by female service members clad in tan jackets and skirts indicates the group is Platoon 7A. A similar shot but in full color, with both men and women in combat gear, features Tasha with Platoon 4029. She graduated Sept. 16, 2011. The stances, and uniforms, differ with the advances of 30 years. Both photos were taken in Parris Island, South Carolina.
Rob, now 49, moved to Monroe roughly 20 years ago. In 2010, he remarried and blended families into what his wife Angie refers to as "a mini Brady bunch." While raising Tasha, Rob said he tried to instill good values like preparedness through the seven Ps, which was a lesson he learned in the Marines. Her father serving as a positive role model was part of the reason Tasha said she knew she wanted to pursue a time in service.
Tasha, 24, graduated from Madison Area Technical College in May with a degree in interior design. She now works for Bella Domicile as a production coordinator. Tasha left the Marines in June 2014.
She learned how to drive trucks in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, before being stationed in Cherry Point, North Carolina. When she deployed to Afghanistan in 2013, Rob knew he would miss his daughter.
"He cried," Angie said, prompting some laughter from Tasha.
Rob said he did have worries when she departed for the foreign country but also felt confident the group would work as a team.
"We were proud, I was nervous though," Rob said. "I knew she was with a good branch, I was familiar with the training they had. I mean, I was nervous and I think that we always thought about it and hoping she was safe. We were hoping for the best and stayed in touch."
Tasha spent seven months in the Middle East, during a time she noted was less tumultuous than the beginning of the war but still had its share of casualties. She drove an ambulance as part of a Navy attachment and tried to video chat with her family when she got the chance. Rob noted the difference 30 years can make. When he was in Okinawa, Japan, the only correspondence was written letters.
Though time separated their experiences, Tasha said she and her father had similarities in their service. Both are expert marksmen. Tasha said she had pride in carrying on a family tradition.
Tasha said though she did face a few people less than enthused about women in combat, the mindset was based in stereotypes women face every day, regardless of the uniform they wear. Sometimes it was about her strength, at others, certain capabilities required during service. But that may have fueled her more, remembering that she began attending entry programs in her junior year of high school because of a desire to prove herself.
Tasha also said she is glad to have been taught lessons of military life.
"The biggest thing I took away was the discipline and the structure," Tasha said. "You have to learn independence."
Though she has no plans to return to the Marines, Tasha said she does miss aspects of service, such as the people she met.
"That's the thing I miss about it," Tasha said. "The camaraderie and the brotherhood you build in a company."
That was not the case for Monroe native Tasha Frie, who joined the U.S. Marines after she graduated high school in 2011, a move that mirrored both of her parents' choices when they reached adulthood.
"That was why I chose the Marine Corps out of all the branches, but as far as the military, I just wanted a challenge," Tasha said. "I wanted to see if I could do it."
But sometimes fate can also have a way of changing parents' intentions, hindering them from following through on plans they hoped to make into reality.
In Greenwood Cemetery in Brodhead a rectangular stone bears the name Sherri G. Frie, the words "Forever In Our Hearts" etched into the marker. Below, a metal plaque honors her time as a staff sergeant, serving for 12 years.
Born Sherri Cook, Staff Sgt. Frie was from Porterville, California, a small college town just under 20 miles west of the Sequoia National Forest. She eventually made her way to Hawaii, working in administration for the U.S. Marine headquarters building there. Sherri met Rob, a young messenger who had to make frequent trips to the office. The two connected, and in October 1990, the couple were wed in Rob's hometown of Brodhead.
Three years later, Sherri gave birth to Tasha. And just two years after that, the girl was riding in the family car with her mom in August 1995 when the vehicle was part of a collision. Sherri didn't survive the crash.
Since then, Tasha has known her mother mostly through photographs. A dated group shot taken to commemorate training graduation includes Sherri in a sepia tone. The banner carried by female service members clad in tan jackets and skirts indicates the group is Platoon 7A. A similar shot but in full color, with both men and women in combat gear, features Tasha with Platoon 4029. She graduated Sept. 16, 2011. The stances, and uniforms, differ with the advances of 30 years. Both photos were taken in Parris Island, South Carolina.
Rob, now 49, moved to Monroe roughly 20 years ago. In 2010, he remarried and blended families into what his wife Angie refers to as "a mini Brady bunch." While raising Tasha, Rob said he tried to instill good values like preparedness through the seven Ps, which was a lesson he learned in the Marines. Her father serving as a positive role model was part of the reason Tasha said she knew she wanted to pursue a time in service.
Tasha, 24, graduated from Madison Area Technical College in May with a degree in interior design. She now works for Bella Domicile as a production coordinator. Tasha left the Marines in June 2014.
She learned how to drive trucks in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, before being stationed in Cherry Point, North Carolina. When she deployed to Afghanistan in 2013, Rob knew he would miss his daughter.
"He cried," Angie said, prompting some laughter from Tasha.
Rob said he did have worries when she departed for the foreign country but also felt confident the group would work as a team.
"We were proud, I was nervous though," Rob said. "I knew she was with a good branch, I was familiar with the training they had. I mean, I was nervous and I think that we always thought about it and hoping she was safe. We were hoping for the best and stayed in touch."
Tasha spent seven months in the Middle East, during a time she noted was less tumultuous than the beginning of the war but still had its share of casualties. She drove an ambulance as part of a Navy attachment and tried to video chat with her family when she got the chance. Rob noted the difference 30 years can make. When he was in Okinawa, Japan, the only correspondence was written letters.
Though time separated their experiences, Tasha said she and her father had similarities in their service. Both are expert marksmen. Tasha said she had pride in carrying on a family tradition.
Tasha said though she did face a few people less than enthused about women in combat, the mindset was based in stereotypes women face every day, regardless of the uniform they wear. Sometimes it was about her strength, at others, certain capabilities required during service. But that may have fueled her more, remembering that she began attending entry programs in her junior year of high school because of a desire to prove herself.
Tasha also said she is glad to have been taught lessons of military life.
"The biggest thing I took away was the discipline and the structure," Tasha said. "You have to learn independence."
Though she has no plans to return to the Marines, Tasha said she does miss aspects of service, such as the people she met.
"That's the thing I miss about it," Tasha said. "The camaraderie and the brotherhood you build in a company."