Photo By Sgt. Marla Keown | U.S. Army Sgt. Esperance Dawson, 49, a combat medic from Pikeville, Tenn., treats a...... read more read more
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIRFIELD, Romania — Husband and wife, Army Sergeants Larry and Esperance Dawson, joined their fellow Tennessee Army National Guard service members in Bulgaria and Romania for their annual training. Meanwhile, their two sons prepared for an upcoming deployment to Iraq this Fall, back home in Pikeville, Tenn.
The military duo spend their once-a-month drill weekends in the same building in Tennessee, however, they have to say their brief goodbyes for their once-a-year AT. This year, Esperance was based at the Babadag Training Area in eastern Romania while her husband Larry, a forward directional controller, supported operations at the Novo Selo Training Area in eastern Bulgaria.
Esperance, 49, grew up in Palestine and moved to Michigan when she was 14. At 20, she became an American citizen. Soon thereafter, she supplied substance to her citizenship and patriotism through military service. The five-foot mother of two has been serving her state and country since 1985. Currently, the wife and mother serves as a combat medic for Headquarters Company of the 230th Sustainment Brigade based in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Dawson originally joined the Marine Corps in 1985 and never imagined her future husband and children would be serving by her side more than 20 years later in the Army National Guard.
The Pikeville, Tenn., resident met her future husband, Larry, 44, in 1987 while stationed at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in 29 Palms, Calif. After a short courtship, the couple married the same year.
After eight years of service, Esperance left the Marine Corps and returned to civilian life to raise her children. Her husband followed in Esperance's footsteps six months later and soon the family packed their bags and moved to Alabama, eventually rooting themselves in Tennessee in 1998.
Both Dawsons were out of the military for about eight years when they realized they missed serving their country and the camaraderie that goes along with the military lifestyle.
In May 2001, the couple decided to join the Tennessee Army National Guard together. Their two sons, Anthony, 21, and Steven, 20, enlisted in the 1st Battalion, 181st Field Artillery Regiment, headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn., three months later. Since joining the Tennessee Army National Guard in 2001, husband and wife have been deployed together to Camp Lejuene, N.C., and Okinawa, Japan.
"When I was deployed to Jamaica, the commander found out that my whole family was in the military and he asked me if I carried everybody's dog tags," the dark-haired mother said. "When I told him no, he ordered me to carry everybody's tags, because I'm the mother of the family."
Esperance now carries dog tags of each family member in her pocket as a reminder of her family's commitment to their nation. One of the dog tags Esperance carries bears the inscription, "The family that serves together, stays together," a slogan she says is their family motto.
Esperance is proud of her family and their patriotism. "My sons understand the commitment they promised when they signed the contract," said Esperance. "They didn't go in blindfolded or join just for the money." But as a mother, "it is nerve wracking," she said while thinking about her sons' upcoming deployment to Iraq.
"I'm looking forward to spending a couple of weeks with the entire family before my boys have to leave for training before they go to Iraq," said Esperance.
When Esperance isn't drilling with the Tennessee Army National Guard, she's a substitute teacher for the Bledsoe County School District in Pikeville, Tenn. Esperance is also pursuing her master's degree at the Keller Graduate School of Business, an online program available through DeVry University. She expects to graduate in June 2010.
The Dawsons concluded their annual training in Romania with a Morale, Welfare and Recreation sponsored day trip to the famous Bran Castle, also known as Dracula's Castle, located near Brasov, one of the largest cities in central Romania.
The Eastern European experience provided the Dawsons and the 350-member unit a cultural exchange opportunity they might not otherwise had if not for being in the Tennessee Army National Guard. It is unknown where the unit will be training next year, but the Dawsons will continue to serve their state and country for as long as they are able.
| Date Taken: | 09.24.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 09.24.2009 03:56 |
| Story ID: | 39196 |
| Location: | MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, RO |
| Web Views: | 510 |
| Downloads: | 442 |
This work, A Family That Serves Together, Stays Together, by SGT Marla Keown, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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