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Two years ago this spring, Crystal Curran was elected president of the Kaiserslautern Landstuhl Spouses Association — an achievement earned through years of volunteering and support to Army communities.
A few weeks later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. But that did not stop Mrs. Curran from continuing her efforts to improve the KLSA’s thrift stores in the KMC. While enduring cancer treatments, she’s helped to more than double annual revenue, which are funds that are donated to local community organizations.
For her efforts with the KLSA and other community activities, Mrs. Curran was selected as Kaiserslautern’s recipient of the U.S. Army Europe Phenomenal Woman Scroll of Impact, a recognition awarded in conjunction with Women’s History Month.
“Phenomenal comes from your spirit and having a positive impact on what you’re doing,” Mrs. Curran said. “It’s not just me. Not only one person gets to a place. If I get to a place, they are all coming with me.”
Mrs. Curran grew up in Westchester County, just north of New York City, and worked in executive travel before meeting her husband, Lt. Col. Robert Curran, on vacation. In 2003, they married and moved to Germany. A week later, he was gone for a year — deployed on the first of two tours in Iraq. While in Mannheim, Mrs. Curran began volunteering at the local thrift store.
“I realized that was where my niche was,” Mrs. Curran said. “The volunteer aspect was wonderful for me. That’s where the passion started, seeing the rewards the community reaps from what we do.”
Her husband’s next assignment was a commander’s position, so the couple moved to Kaiserslautern, where Mrs. Curran is often seen at community events with her macaw Rollie perched upon her shoulder. During two terms as KLSA president, Mrs. Curran has spent countless hours overseeing the organization’s transformation,
refining business practices and creating cohesion among volunteers, said Leif Johnson, who nominated Mrs. Curran for the USAREUR recognition.
Women in military communities, including those in uniform, government civilians and family members, embody strength and resiliency, putting their mark on history now. That’s why Christi Ham, wife of Gen. Carter Ham, the former USAREUR commander, initiated the scroll recognition. Nominations were based on the five dimensions of the Army’s new Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program: family, social, emotional, physical and spiritual.
Mrs. Curran is a woman of impact and energy whose dedication and devotion to community service has helped shape the KMC into a great place to live and serve, Mr. Johnson said. She’s endured surgeries and taxing treatments, yet her energy-
level never appeared to decrease.
“She never shows it,” he said. “She engages the world with exuberant and contagious energy that breaks down walls, brings people together and accomplishes great things for the community.”
In May 2009, KLSA members elected her president. On June 28, 2009, while at a checkup at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Mrs. Curran learned she had cancer.
“I walked out into the parking lot, screamed out loud, cried a little, and immediately the words, ‘I just want to live,’ formed somewhere in the back of my mind” she said.
She composed herself and called her husband, who at the time was in the country of Georgia.
“They think its cancer,” she told him.
“Don’t worry,” her husband replied. “Whatever it is, we’ll get through
it.”
Within days, she had the first of a half dozen surgeries. For two years, she received monthly treatments at a hospital in Heidelberg. She continues a daily regimen of medication. But she feels like the cancer in now behind her, she said.
“You never look back,” Mrs. Curran said.
Feeling like she was making a contribution to the community motivated Mrs. Curran during her trying times, she said. She felt the spouses who elected her depended on her and she didn’t want to let them down during a time of growing momentum, she said.
“They chose me lead,” she said. “I wanted to do a good job and leave it better than when we came here. I wanted to be proud of what we were doing.”
Two years ago, the KLSA thrift stores gave away about $70,000 to local organizations. This year, they will offer more than $150,000. Each month, the Landstuhl and Pulaski thrift shops generate about $20,000, she said.
The stores improved ways to process donated items and were the first in the area to move from using prices on little tickets to scanners. The relationship between the KLSA and store employees tightened, making a more cohesive team, improving working conditions, Mrs. Curran said.
“It’s not just me,” she said. “It’s that group effort that makes a team and that makes you strong.”
