Pat Crump - Caldwell County Veterans

Pat Crump
By
Courtney Housand
I took several long
strides down the driveway that
leads to the home of Pat Crump,
a veteran of the Persian Gulf
War.
Forty-seven year old
Crump grew up in Garden City,
Michigan, where her interest in
the armed forces led her to join
the military. A wife, a mother of
four children, and a veteran of
the Persian Gulf War, Crump
performed an untraditional role
in this overseas conflict.
As many Americans sat home
and viewed the Persian Gulf
Conflict from their sofas, Crump
entered basic training to prepare
her mind and body for the
journey overseas.
The two
general parts of basic training
were boot camp and Advanced
Infantry Training. Veterans of
the Vietnam War often taught
these training courses. As the
veins in the necks of these
veteran instructors bulged and as
their
eyes glowed
with
conviction and determination,
the soldiers
under
their
command began to develop a
personal sense of duty. Crump
states, "The American flag, as a
symbol, took on a personal
meaning."Each soldier fighting
for our country felt a sense of
honor, integrity and bravery.
informed. Crump left behind the
comforts of her home to better
,~ serve the American people.
In addition to serving in
Uniting as one, many soldiers Saudi Arabia, Crump served in
put aside personal beliefs and Bahrain, Kuwait, Ecuador, and
began conforming to the ideals the Marshall
Islands
In
of others, as keeping one another Moldavia.
The people of
out of danger became a primary Moldavia have been independent
goal. "The country became of the Soviet Union since 1990.
smaller, and the cultural groups The natives of Moldavia
had fewer diversities, as soldiers constantly fought against the
from all over the United States Soviets, so when Crump and
stood tall for a common cause."
other members of the United
After completing both States National Guard worked
of these endurance periods, together with the Soviets and the
Crump entered a technical Moldavians, things were a little
school and became a skilled tense. Crump remembered this
mechanic. Generally, this class event a smile spread across her
took five months to complete, face, as she recalled the feeling
but hard work and determination of pride and personal peace she
paid off as she finished in only felt as she aided the citizens of
three months. Crump, along with ~~:""9~?:~}:-Sff:F'.t
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the other members of Lenoir's
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1450 Petroleum Crew (a division
fcoInforts):af'ner
home'
of the National Guard in Lenoir), r:"
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served as a mechanic in Saudi
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Arabia for nine months.
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Her role included working on
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vehicle standard services and
helping in mechanical supply.
Crump put aside traditionally these newly allied nations: "It
weaponry for her personal felt strange to be working side
morals and values, a sense of by side with the once-enemy
duty and integrity, as she Soviets."
faithfully served her country. In
Another
memorable
repairing the vehicles American experience Crump shared was
soldiers used to move from place that of a press conference held in
to place, Crump used her Moldavia. The Moldavian Army
mechanical ability rather than and the United States Army held
the usual tactics of war. Often, a large ceremony at the work
she did not know what happened crew's base camp. Both armies
in areas near her station as there had been laying bricks as the
were
no televisions
or foundation for a soon to be
newspapers to keep the soldiers constructed clinic that would
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ti:~:
15
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serve a local orphanage. Crump
found that thi project provided
many personal rewards, and she
knew that her service would
greatly benefit others. A local
television crew that spoke no
English interviewed the armies
as translators relayed questions
and answers back and forth.
Crump said that it seemed that
the most asked question was
"We understand that American
men strive hard to protect
American women, so why then
do American women fight in the
wars?" The members of the
Moldavian
Army did not
understand
that American
women, like American men, felt
it their duty to protect and serve
our nation, (as men feel it their
duty).
Both armies made
concessions to adapt to each
other's culture and to better
understand the traditions of the
native people. Crump stated that
American soldiers are sometimes
from consuming alcohol, but to
prevent offending the culture of
the Moldavians,
American
soldiers were encouraged, by
their leaders, to consume alcohol
during meals.
Upon her return home
from overseas, Crump said that it
felt peculiar to drive her car
down the street.
Many
homecoming veterans felt that
their newly achieved confidence
and pride might not be accepted
upon the return home. Many of
the
American
soldiers
persevered through extreme
experiences that enriched their
lives to the point where old
views were challenged and new,
unconventional views became
the standard.
A wartime
environment
challenged
Crump's traditional morals.
Before leaving, she felt that no
matter the circumstance, killing
another human was wrong, "It
was against my religion," she
stated. Crump now feels that if
ever
her
family
were
endangered. her duty would be
to defend them. As rewards for
her
hard
work
and
determination, Crump earned
some medals and decorations,
but the memorable experiences
and the people she encountered
serve as her most valuable treasures.
A resident of Caldwell
County, a mother and a wife,
Crump displayed
courage,
bravery and integrity as she left
behind her family to take on the
role of an American soldier.
Crump prepared to
serve in active duty,
while
most
American citizens
prepared themselves
• for another CBS
-.--_._\
broadcast dedicated
to the Persian Gulf
Conflict. 0
s
l
Crump in uniform during the Persian Gulf
War.
16