Grant Allen Dampier
Date of Death: 05/15/2006
Age: 25
Incident Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Hometown: Merrill
Branch of Service: Army
Unit: 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team
Unit Base: Fort Carson, Colorado
Army Spc. Grant Allen Dampier, 25, of Merrill, Wis. was killed May 15, 2006, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat patrol operations in Baghdad. Dampier was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Fort Carson, Colorado.
Grant graduated from Merrill Senior High School in 1999 where he was a member of the wrestling team. After high school he worked for Marathon Electric in Wausau. He joined the U.S. Army in September 2004, and was deployed to Iraq in December 2005. SPC Damper was the recipient of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Army Achievement medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. Additional medals include Good Conduct, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. He also received the Army Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Infantry Badge. Grant enjoyed fishing, watching the Green Bay Packers, truck racing and his car. But most of all he loved his wife, Heidi, and his three little girls. He was very proud of them and wanted them to be proud of him.
"Dampier did everything for his family. He wanted to help everyone," said Conrad Gabler, a friend since they were about 7 years old. "He’d give you the shirt off his back. He always put himself last."
Grant graduated from Merrill Senior High School in 1999 where he was a member of the wrestling team. After high school he worked for Marathon Electric in Wausau. He joined the U.S. Army in September 2004, and was deployed to Iraq in December 2005. SPC Damper was the recipient of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Army Achievement medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. Additional medals include Good Conduct, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. He also received the Army Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Infantry Badge. Grant enjoyed fishing, watching the Green Bay Packers, truck racing and his car. But most of all he loved his wife, Heidi, and his three little girls. He was very proud of them and wanted them to be proud of him.
"Dampier did everything for his family. He wanted to help everyone," said Conrad Gabler, a friend since they were about 7 years old. "He’d give you the shirt off his back. He always put himself last."