By Amber Jurgensen | Staff Writer
When families say good-bye to their loved ones who serve in the military, it often is a somber occasion.
And although there were a few tears shed by Kyle Hargroves’ mother in the days leading up to his Aug. 12 departure for boot camp in the U.S. Marines, the family was mostly smiles, and the infectious laughs are a testimony to the family’s close relationship and resiliency.
Plus, they know boot camp is the beginning of Kyle’s longtime dream.
“God, country, corps,” Kyle, 19, says, reciting a military motto that explains his faith.
Mom, Annisa, quickly corrects him.
“No,” she says. “It’s God. Mommy. Country. Corps.”
The two, along with Kyle’s grandfather, Ray Hargroves, burst out laughing.
“There’s only one thing the Marine Corps is scared of,” Ray says. “That’s Marines’ mothers.”
RAY OF LIGHT
Kyle always has had noble intentions. When his grandmother died of lung cancer, he thought about becoming a lawyer to fight the tobacco companies.
“I always wanted to be the good guy,” he says.
Although Kyle grew up in a military setting, it wasn’t until middle school that he decided he wanted to become a Marine. Ray and two uncles had served in the Marines, along with countless other relatives. Ray set examples of the valiance and humbleness that come with the Marine name. After serving for one year and 11 months, Ray was injured in Vietnam and lost both his legs. Now wheelchair-bound, he supports Kyle in his military endeavors and even helped physically train Kyle for months prior to his leave date.
“What really, really inspired me was him,” Kyle says of his grandfather. “Going to war, getting his legs blown off and coming back and dealing with the anti-war movement here. Through all that, he is happy with his life. To see him happy day to day, it is just incredible.”
Kyle is the first-born grandchild on both his mother’s and father’s sides and the first born child.
“Everyone looks up to him,” Annisa says. “What in the world are we going to do without him? Who’s going to kill all my spiders?”
“Who’s going to fertilize my yard?” Ray pipes in, causing an uproar between the three.
“He’s ready to go,” Ray says. “He’s an all-American boy. He’s seen his goal and he’s ready for it.”
Kyle is an all-American boy. He works hard at his job at Sweetbay supermarket. He attends Victory Baptist Church on Sundays. He got a chance to travel to several European countries, including Germany and France, as a student ambassador. He likes to hunt, hang out with his family and friends and work out.
BILLBOARD MARINE
Annisa has stocked up on Marine memorabilia, including license-plate covers, car stickers that say “Marine Mom” and clothing with the Marine logo. But she won’t be wearing or displaying any of it until Kyle graduates from boot camp. Kyle won’t accept himself as a Marine until then.
“Boot camp is where they turn you into a Marine,” Kyle says.
“Even when he signed the papers, people said, ‘Thank you,’ and he had a hard time accepting that,” Annisa says.
After graduating from Plant City High in the spring, the family had a combined going-away and graduation party, because Kyle’s original ship out date had changed four times. About 150 people attended, including co-workers from Sweetbay and members of Victory Baptist Church.
Preschoolers at the Walden Lake Early Learning Center, where Annisa is a director, sang the “Marines’ Hymn” for Kyle during their end-of-the-year ceremony. Kyle also attended the preschool as a child.
“It was cool,” Kyle says. “I wasn’t expecting that one.”
Kyle, who says the wait was killing him, was ready to leave for boot camp.
“He’s worked so hard for this,” Annisa says. “He’s going to be the perfect Marine. He’ll be a billboard Marine.”
After boot camp, Kyle will go on to infantry school. He wants to be part of the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security team. The FAST Company is similar to the Navy Seals. If part of the company, Kyle would provide security to major bases, work on strike teams and complete specialized missions like major drug busts and securing targets.
“Every man in this family is proud of him,” Ray says. “We could not have more respect for him as a human being.”
Kyle wants to make a career out of the military life. He is very excited to travel and see the world through the different bases. He is interested in going to California to the base in Twenty Nine Palms. Kyle also would like to return to Germany.
“The way I see it is this country has given me 19 years of protection,” Kyle says. “And who better to protect my friends and family than me?”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
HOMETOWN HEROES
Hometown Heroes is a new feature in the Plant City Observer in which we profile veterans from Plant City. If you have a loved one currently serving or who has served in the past, please contact Managing Editor Michael Eng by email at meng@plantcityobserver.com or by phone at 704-6850.“>http://lovejanetphoto.com/bankovskie-denezhnie-vkladi.php