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Riverview High grad dies in Iraq

He went to culinary school in Orlando for a year before deciding to join the Army.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published July 21, 2007

Brandon Bobb evacuated his Texas home when Hurricane Rita struck and finished high school in Riverview in Hillsborough County. He left for Iraq two months ago in good spirits.

The 20-year-old private first class kept in touch with his large family after long days in the volatile streets of Baghdad and found pride in his job as a military police officer.

Bobb died Tuesday when a bomb detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad.

Bobb joined the Army a year ago after trying his hand as a student chef at Orlando Culinary Academy for a year. It wasn't exactly what he wanted to do, relatives said, and he decided to follow in the footsteps of some of the men whom he admired - such as his late grandfather, who served in the Korean War.

He spent most of his life in Port Arthur, Texas, before moving to Hillsborough County more than two years ago. He enjoyed track, football and basketball. He graduated from Riverview High School in 2005. A kind and mature young man, he was a mentor to the younger children in his family, said his mother, Paula Bobb-Miles of Port Arthur.

"Everybody looked up to him," she said.

Riverview High School principal Robert Heilmann remembers Bobb enrolling in the school his senior year having failed Algebra 2. He was among a few hurricane evacuees from Louisiana or Texas, and Heilmann told math teacher Paul Mastella to work with him.

"I'm on him," Heilmann recalled the math teacher shooting back.

Bobb passed the class and graduated with a 3.2 grade point average, Heilmann said. He spent just one year at Riverview, and family members said he was in the National Honor Society. He also took a high school culinary class, Heilmann said.

But it was the Army, not the culinary arts, that became Bobb's passion. He considered making it his career.

"As of right now, it's the best job in the world," he wrote on his MySpace.com page, where he posted pictures of himself in uniform with his Army buddies. He last signed on to the page a day before his death. "I'm thinking about making this Army thing a career but don't know yet."

He was proud to say he finished first in his class in sharpshooting, his mother said.

"I know he was doing what he loved; that's why he was excelling so fast," she said. "He tried to be the best he could in everything he did."

His uncle, Terry Bobb, 36, also of Port Arthur, said others were drawn to his nephew's friendly personality and quick wit. "He brought a bright light into any room he stepped into," he said. "He was never shy. He could make you laugh in a minute."

Bobb was great with children and always made his brother, 10-year-old Johnny, and sister, 12-year-old Racquel, smile.

"It's just sad," Terry Bobb said. "I think any family in the world would love to have had him. He was the type of person that was loved by all. He's going to be greatly missed."

Bobb was assigned to the 89th Military Police Brigade based in Fort Hood, Texas.

Times staff writer Justin George contributed to this report.

[Last modified July 20, 2007, 23:16:59]