A Beacon of Service and Support!

By Rochelle Tindal-Sharpe

Linda Diane Fitzpatrick was born in Charleston, SC to a loving mother and father, Mary Lynn and Clyde. She has a younger sister, Gloria, and two brothers, Duane and James. Currently residing in Newberry, SC, she has spent many years dedicated to the SC Army National Guard through her military service. It’s because of her dedication, hard work, resiliency, and motivation that I was asked to write an article highlighting her in the Newberry Living Magazine as a Hometown Hero. I was honored to be asked, just as I have been honored to be a friend and coworker. With the help of her family, here is Linda Fitzpatrick’s story and why she is deserving of such an honor.

Prior to joining the military and having only a GED, Linda worked hard and accomplished her 1st goal of becoming a nationally registered EMT. Linda followed this accomplishment by setting her sights on another goal as the 1st female in her family to join the military. Linda pledged her service to the SC Army National Guard at the age of 34, as the mother of 3, and left for basic training in 1997. After completing basic training and advanced individual training, she made the choice to help a family member and adopted 2 boys, ages 4 and 5. It was then her family was complete with 4 boys and 1 girl. Linda didn’t stop there; this was just the beginning of her military career and, in July 2002, she became a nationally registered paramedic while climbing the ranks to a non-commissioned officer (NCO) E5 by January 2004. In 2006, she became full-time with the SCARNG as the medical readiness NCO for the 59th Troop Command Brigade. in 2010, Linda was promoted to Sergeant First Class and completed several trainings, becoming a master resilience trainer, equal opportunity advisor, and medical command readiness NCO, along with completing the master leadership course in 2018. As Linda's military career was approaching retirement, she assisted with the military's efforts with the COVID-19 pandemic through testing and vaccination. In March 2021, she was promoted to 1SGT of 251st ASMC, where she finished out her military career and retired in March 2022.

Most importantly, “She is a loving wife to her supportive husband Gerald Fitzpatrick, and a wonderful mother to five stubborn children: Darshane, Michael, Mathew, Dustin, and Sage. She has taught them that with hard work and discipline you can make positive changes to your future, for your family, and yourself,” says Michael Hines.

Michael says that, newly retired, you will find Linda, “aggravating her children, reading, biking with her husband, hiking, and spending time with her spoiled grandchildren: Isabella, Brooklynn, Olivia, Riley and Rowen."

Linda is a good friend, has a big heart, and loves hard. If you see her out and about in Newberry, thank her for her service and ask about her grandchildren. You will certainly make her day. I am honored to be her friend and thankful for her years of service and the sacrifice made as an integral part of the SCARNG.