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1LT Richard Cromer
Summary


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​At eighteen years old, Mr. Richard Cromer,
a first semester freshman student at
Gettysburg College enlisted in the Army. As a member of the ROTC club at college and
having a family history filled with many war time experiences, at the notice of the draft of
World War Two, Mr. Cromer acknowledged that it was his patriotic duty to enlist.
After much training at Fort McClellan, Alabama and additional training in Virginia, Mr. Cromer
was sent to war.
He slowly moved up the ranks as he started out in the RegularArmy as a
Sergeant and then became a Lieutenant, where instead of receiving orders from an officer,
he was commanding a small group of army men. His main role in the war was to control the
security of our nation, which meant he was not involved with direct combat. His position
required him to travel to many countries in the Pacific, such as Japan, Guam, Saipan and
Honolulu.
After serving time in the Army, Mr. Cromer returned to the states and was involved with the Army Reserves for eleven years. After being deported, he returned home to Pennsylvania, where him and some of his comrades went back to college to finish their education under the GI Bill. This bill enable them to enroll in college at little or not cost to
them.
Under this bill, Mr. Cromer was able to finish four years of college and attain his degree of Bachelor of Arts. His pride in his country and his heritage has enabled him to selflessly act on behalf of the United States of America when our country need him the most, without a second thought.
Mr. Cromer lives his life with no regrets and looks at the army as a part of his life that helped him to mature. He advises all, regardless of gender, to enroll in the army for the lessons learned through the training and discipline are irreplaceable and
unforgettable. If Mr. Cromer could sum up his philosophy of life in one statement it
would be "to live and let live." He lives his life day to day, without any regrets, with the
realization that you only have one life, so live it well. Mr. Cromer's efforts
in World War Two
will always be remembered. I thank him greatly for his service and for having the
privilege to have had the opportunity to interviewed him.