In the demanding world of military service, challenges of duty often extend beyond training and combat, intertwining with the complexities of personal life. For one dedicated Soldier from the 410th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, Pfc. Perry Crutchfield, the responsibility of serving as a military police officer is matched only by his commitment to caring for his mother, Ty’Quella Davenport, who relies on him as one of her primary support systems.
Crutchfield navigates a balance that tests his resilience and adaptability. His journey demonstrates the perseverance he employs to maintain balance between duty and family, and the lessons he learns along the way.
Crutchfield is the fourth of five children, having one younger brother and — three older sisters. Coming from a family-oriented environment, he faced a significant loss in his life during 2020 that changed the stability of his entire family.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, my older sister, Simeria, passed away at 25 years old,” Crutchfield said. “My sister had Sickle Cell, which is a disease that can cause uncontrollable pain such as muscle spasms or muscle cramps all over your body that you can’t control. Seeing a person go from cheerful and happy to crying hysterically was weird for me when I was younger. As I got older, I felt a very overwhelming guilt that I didn’t understand how much pain she was in when we were children.”
After Simeria passed away, he noticed a significant change in the emotional well-being of his mother, which motivated him to shoulder more of the responsibilities.
“My sister’s passing caused my mother a lot of separation anxiety,” Crutchfield said. “My mom wanted to be around all our families’ significant events, even small ones. She’s become very attached to her children and grandchildren.”
Crutchfield’s mother began experiencing physical injuries including a torn rotator cuff and multiple herniated discs in her back. Understanding his mother’s physical and emotional pain, Crutchfield made the decision to take on the responsibility of caring for her by enlisting in the Army in 2023.
After completing Initial Entry Training and arriving to Fort Cavazos, Crutchfield’s chain of command was very supportive of his situation and gave him all the resources he needed to officially register his mother as his dependent.
“When I first got to the 410th MP Company, I never told anyone that I was financially supporting my mother because of the passing of my sister and my mother’s injuries,” Crutchfield said. “But one day, my platoon sergeant overheard me discussing my mother. Since then, my whole chain of command has guided me as I went through the process of registering my mother as my dependent.”
The balance between being at work and taking care of his mother became a significant challenge in his life as Crutchfield’s Army career began.
“In the Army, you can’t always just drop everything to go take care of personal affairs,” Crutchfield said. “But my command made so many accommodations for me like going to my mom’s appointments with her or picking up her medications.”
When Crutchfield is home and has time away from work, he always tries to make the most of their time by embracing hobbies or activities.
“I encourage my mom to try new hobbies with me or even by herself,” Crutchfield said. “We recently got a new dog so we can both walk him and spend time together exercising. The dog is also a very good companion to my mom when I am not home. We love to listen to music together, watch movies, and I am trying to get her into video games. I always try to find fun things to do with her, so she feels a sense of purpose and connection.”
Crutchfield also draws significant motivation from his mother’s constant support, as she cheers him on despite her own battles. He views each achievement as a way to honor her in the sacrifices they’ve made as a family. With every step forward, he’s driven by the desire to provide better care and security for her, making his success a testament to her influence on his life.
“My mom tells me every day how proud she is of me and to make the best out of each day,” Crutchfield said. “She motivates me to want to further my career and be competitive in everything I do. She always tells me to aim for the top, because she knows I can make it. If she speaks my future into existence, I want to work hard to make it a reality.”
In the wake of his sister’s passing, Crutchfield’s purpose in life started to evolve. Balancing the demands of military life with the responsibility of caring for his mother has been challenging, but he’s found strength in his supportive and understanding leadership.
“Letting go of things I can’t control is how I try to handle adversity,” Crutchfield said. “If I can come to work every day with a smile on my face, you can do the same.”
