Photo By Tech. Sgt. Robert Barnett | Tech. Sgt. Cathy Ulmer is the 376th Medical Group first sergeant and senior medical...... read more read more
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan - She took the stage, a spotlight in her eyes. The rap battle had already had performers come up, and the audience was ready for the next song. The previous rappers had performed songs they were fans of, playing the track and rapping along with it. One had even performed without the aid of background music. She chose to perform a song she'd written, and the background music wasn't exactly her preferred choice, but it would have to do. She wanted to tell her story.
The reaction of the audience as she began was encouraging. She'd been hoping it would be well-received. The song had come from her heart.
The376th Medical Group first sergeant and senior medical technician Tech. Sgt. Cathy Ulmer's rap song "Peek-a-boo" was inspired by the fact that she'd caught her ex-husband cheating on her, and her lyrics boldly proclaim it.
Ulmer has lived a challenging life. While an English teacher inspired her to enjoy writing, she'd originally wanted to be an Air Force pilot. A tragedy that happened to her as a teenager changed that.
"I went to my first party when I was 16," she said. "I drank alcohol and passed out. I don’t know if somebody put something in my drink or not, but I was raped by a 23-year-old man because my defenses were crippled by alcohol or possibly the date rape drug. I got pregnant. I'd wanted to be a pilot, but what happened changed my whole life."
She tried to be brave, she said. She kept the baby, a son who is now 23 and in Air Force Basic Military Training today, got her general education degree and went to college, completing a degree in criminal justice. She wasn't able to join the military as a single parent. Instead, she worked various job, including being a karate instructor. She'd been an international karate champion when she was raped, and continued to train for years after.
"I worked a lot of different jobs," the native of Visalia, Calif., said. "I ended up getting married too young, trying to find a daddy for my son. It didn't work out; he was the one who cheated on me and inspired my 'Peek-a-boo' rap song."
Ulmer's son was six years old when she got divorced, and he continued giving her reminders that he wanted a father in his life. She met someone and got married six months later.
"I ended up falling in love with my crazy ex-husband," she said. "After marrying him, I found out he had schizophrenia and would get even get jealous of me watching T.V., saying I was falling in love with the characters on the television. He was very possessive, and started thinking my son was possessed by a demon."
Ulmer had had enough. She sent her son to live with her parents for a while and joined the military. Her husband continued to cause problems.
"He got really crazy while I was in basic training, and tried to visit the base while I was in technical school," she said. "It was a miracle that I even survived training with all the stress he was putting me under. I had to convince him we were getting back together so I could collect my son and my stuff. On the drive back to the base, we were driving along a cliff in California and he started talking about driving off the edge and killing us all. I had to talk him down. He was just crazy."
When they returned to the base, she immediately contacted her first sergeant and 911.
"I told them I was scared he was going to kill us," she said. "To deal with his threats, he wasn't allowed back on base and his pictures were up at all the gates to make sure he didn't try to get back on base. So for several months, I was really scared."
Having survived that situation and her second divorce, today Ulmer is happily married and also has a daughter.
"I have since realized that I don't need a man to make me happy or complete my life," she said. "I know that no matter what happens I am strong, and I can make it on my own."
Her grandmother had been a nurse, and Ulmer herself had worked as a certified nurse in one of her many prior military jobs. She took that career path and has loved it ever since. Her passions continue to be writing and music. She sees them as ways to share her experience with others, to educate them on how to avoid bad situations.
"I've always written, since I was younger," she said. "I've written songs, poems and I started writing a book about my life. I want to teach young girls that if you drink alcohol just one time, drinking and driving isn't the only concern; you also have to worry about someone taking advantage of you. I want to help them to avoid my mistake."
The writer, singer and rapper has published a couple of poems, and is in the processing of publishing some of her rap work. Due to throat surgery, it may take some time for her to resume singing. In the meantime, she does what she can. She is in the process of publishing and recording her rap work. Deployed out of Wright-Patterson, Ohio, Ulmer has already taken the stage at Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, and shared her story through some of her music.
"I've told the wing commander my story," she said. "I'm comfortable with telling it at a commander's call. I'm writing a book on it; it'll make me feel better. Writing is my therapy."
| Date Taken: | 09.10.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.10.2013 06:45 |
| Story ID: | 113371 |
| Location: | TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, KG |
| Hometown: | SPRINGVILLE, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | VISALIA, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 256 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Airman uses music, writing to tell story of abuse, rape and resilience, by TSgt Robert Barnett, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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