European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 29, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse No Ordinary year from the cover White stretched limousine Complete with bar and television that picked her up at the los Angeles International Airport. For the next few Days she was wined dined and treated like a celebrity As one of 36 teachers honoured in the second annual telecast of the Walt Disney company presents the american teacher awards. A it would be comparable to Cinderella going to the Ball a Maturna said. A a fairy godmother came along and All of a sudden i was this person that was very elegant wealthy and glamorous. In the nicest room in the hotel receiving Little gifts. It was just the weeks buildup to the live three hour telecast was like Quot walking in a wonderful dream a she said. A a you re going to be on television people Are in tuxedos everybody is excited. When the show finally took place it was like it was somebody else that was there. A the highlight for me was when i got to try on All those wonderful dresses. I had a vision of being very sophisticated Long and beaded but the Dresser told me he wanted me to show some leg to Wear something that moved when i so she did. And the dress did too. Teachers were selected for the awards by a committee from distinguished educational organizations. Three teachers in each of 12 subject categories were profiled on the Disney Channel telecast and one of the three from each category was selected outstanding teacher in his or her Field. At the end of the profiles on health physical education teachers a not unlike excerpts of Sis Vinca Crowlwy Terry Crighton lost his left to enemy gunfire during operation desert Story Academy award nominees a the envelope contained Mal Crnak a name. Her 22-Pound award was presented by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. A when my name was called it was like somebody else got up out of my body and my body stayed in the chair and watched me go up on the stage and talk in front of All those people a said Materna. Maturna had a message for America about 1991. She was determined to let America know How the War had affected Dodds schools its teachers and its students. A when i started talking about the War and what we went through Peoples eyes were focused on me and there was an Energy there. The neatest thing besides kissing Arnold was to be Able to stand up there and represent All of us to starting with the War in january 1991 caused Maturna to a run the Gamut of being scared to death to being so relieved. It was like being on top of a wave All year Long. It kept building and moving and moving. It just did no to Maturna Calls Mcminnville ore., Home. She has been with the overseas school system for 20 of her 30 years As a teacher. A educationally the thing for the whole year has been watching these kids adapt Quot said match a who has two grown children of her own. A the part that still amazes me is How the kids coped with War and still arc with the draw Down. You know they re disturbed but somehow they just continue to do what they Are supposed to do. They re simply in her mind the emotional stress of 1991 wont end dec 31 for the children in her classroom and her colleagues. A this draw Down is probably As emotional As the beginning of the year for the children she said. Quot their friends Are All leaving one right after the other but Here they arc at a school that s try a amps Jinni Joni Carolyn Materna goes Over details with student Edwin Robinson. Ing to get them involved and some Are. Until the last minute. The next Dayd hey re gone. The resiliency and the adaptability of our kids. We did not give them enough As her 51st birthday draws near on Jan. 16, Materna said reaching the half Century Mark have been better. A a in a not suffering from any big letdown and i done to feel at All like this is my Peak and everything is going to go downhill a she said. A a it a been one Heck of a 50th.�?�a nightmarish War for a sergeant caught in the Stormy Vince Crawley staff writer people Back Home in Georgia Are astounded when Terry Crighton explains How he lost his to enemy gunfire during operation desert storm. A i guess its because of the news Media Quot Crighton says. A they never really talked about the details of what kind of injuries occurred. In a getting the most surprised reactions. Peoples jaws drop. They get befuddled looks in their Crighton s year started bad and got worse. His 2nd army Cav regt unit from Amburg Germany had shipped out to saudi Arabia after thanksgiving 1990. New years Day was spent in the desert getting ready for an armoured cavalry charge against iraqis Republican guard and Crighton a 36-year-old motor sergeant was assigned to keep the attack vehicles rolling on the frontline. On the third morning of the ground War at 2 . Feb. 26, Crighton got caught Between iraqi and american crossfire. His left shattered and burned to uselessness was amputated by Field doctors the same Day. By the time the shooting stopped three americans had been shot by their own troops. A fourth Chi. James Mccoy from Crighton a squad was killed instantly by an enemy Reg anti tank rocket. Five other wounded americans besides Crighton Lay scattered across the Battlefield. A a bad night a Crighton said afterwards describing his War experiences in the understatement of an old sergeant. People who know him say he spent his Hospital stays going from Ward to Ward talking to fellow amputees trying to convince them that life could be worse. A Crighton returned to Germany on March 7. He was sitting on a step inside Wiesbaden a air Force Hospital waiting to Call his wife Carolyn who a spent the War months in the states. He was trying to figure out what head Tell her when a Flo and behold she came walking out of the elevator. She d just flown Back to Germany and people from the unit drove her from the Airport. A the tears rolled that Day a he said. He had a a special Little Homecoming that week in Amburg. Neighbors Hung banners on the stairwell and offered meals. In Early May he went to Georgia where he owns a House outside of fort Stewart. His stateside Homecoming at a military Hospital at fort Gordon ga., was less satisfying. Crighton travelled to the states with four other continued on Page 5 Page 4a sunday december 29, 1991
