90 year old veteran tells his story

90 year old WWII veteran tells a great story!

This is a very unique way to tell an extremely interesting story. Only 2.25 minutes long...watch it!

Latta Introduces Bill to Honor Military Children

WASHINGTON- Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) has introduced H.R. 5333, a bill to honor the children of active duty soldiers and veterans of the United States armed forces. H.R. 5333, if passed, will create a program to make available a lapel pin to the children of active duty and veterans of active military duty for them to display and honor their parents’ service to our nation. These pins will be purchased by the recipients.

"I feel it is important to honor these children whose parent(s) currently serve or have served on active duty while these children were growing up. It is important we recognize these military children for their contribution to the military through their parent(s), whether it is the children of military service members from WWI or Afghanistan and Iraq. These children and families tend to be shaped by frequent moves, long and short-term absence of a parent, strong patriarchal or matriarchal authority, threats of parental loss in war, and a military family unit."
H.R. 5333 has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

American Military Families in the Occupation of Japan

After many years trying, I’ve finally succeeded in securing a publisher (a regular, nationally-respected one, not a vanity house or strictly e-book type) for my book on the role of American military families in the occupation of Japan. Our family was one of them; we lived in Yokohama in 1949-‘50, when I was 10 and 11 years old. I use my memories to flesh out and provide examples supporting the books’ thesis, which is that the families provided the model the Japanese observed and emulated in rebuilding their society, and also the paradigm upon which they fashioned their postwar industrial colossus. I am seeking the experiences of my contemporaries to flesh out my story by providing more and more varied examples. If you would like to participate in this project, kindly write me at: jimlam1@comcast.net. Please have your email include a brief sketch of your time in Japan: when/where you lived, highlights, lowlights, notable routines, how the experience affected your life, etc. What you tell me in your email(s) likely will trigger back-and-forth dialogue in which I might elicit more (and possibly more revealing) data. I once was a working journalist, so know how the process works. I hope to get many contributions, all of which will be cited and, in part at least, quoted. Thank you. James Lamont, Deerfield, Illinois.

YouTube - Military Brat: Travis

This video was posted a year ago on YouTube.

What is a military brat? A series in which different Military Brats answer that question.

Military Brat: Travis

Military Brats, Inc. receives IRS approval

It's official! Military Brats, Inc. is now recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The purpose is to preserve and promote the culture and history of Military Brats. Check out www.MilitaryBratsInc.org
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A Pittance of Time

Veteran's Day video from Terry Kelly.

The Price of Peace

Deployment Ceremonies are never easy. Emotions can be overwhelming as families and friends gather together for their good-byes.

Twelve-year-old Alyssa Gaddis and her sixteen-year-old sister Cassy, of Springfield, IL, know this firsthand. They've been to so many such events because their father, CW5 Jim Gaddis, is the command chief warrant officer of the Illinois Army National Guard. They've felt the power of families being torn apart.

These experience insipired Alyssa to write a song -- a song to lift the spirits of those enduring deployment, a song to inspire courage and hope. Alyssa titled her song "The Price of Peace."

Watch the video here. (tissues recommended)

New law makes changing schools easier for children of military parents

Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:14 a.m.

MONTGOMERY - Military brats understand the hassles associated with transferring to a new school especially in the middle of a school year.

A law signed today by Gov. Bob Riley is designed to ease the transition.

Alabama becomes the 19th state to join the Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunities for Military Children.

The legislation sponsored by Democratic Rep. Craig Ford of Gadsden and Democratic Sen. Ted Little of Auburn would allow Alabama to work with other states to reconcile variations in graduation requirements and other school issues.

Air Force Lt. General Al Peck, commander of Air University, said the new law would assist school-age children transition into and out of Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base every year.

The Wanderer: Life as Military Child

By Debra Lu Kaiser

I was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. My father was an Army man of just a year at that time. The next few years of my life we lived in Prum, Germany. Then it was back to the U.S. My mother was pregnant with my brother at the time we flew back. It was illegal for a pregnant military wife to fly, so my brother flew home illegally before he was even born!

My father then enlisted in the Air Force when his Army duty ended. As we visited my grandmother in Nebraska, she was charmed with the way I said “Auf Wiedersehen.” That simple German word for goodbye defined much of my life from then on. We went to California to get settled, then to Wichita Falls, Texas for my dad’s training; then back to California for his assignment.

The very first clear memory I have is wandering lost among the Texas weeds that were taller than my three year old body. My next memory was getting lost trying to find my way home from school the first day of Kindergarten. Interestingly, these earliest memories formed a metaphor for my childhood.

The full story is available at Nancy Gonzalez's Blog

I'm a Military Brat

For many years the "I am a Military Brat" poem has been floating around the internet with an "Anonymous" signature. The original was published in 1975 in a military magazine with the title "Brat is Beautiful." Obviously, someone wrote it!

After a recent newsletter, one member of the Military Brats Registry sent me an email and said "Hey, that's not anonymous! I have a framed version of the original article that was given to me in 1977." He gave me the name of the author and within an hour I had tracked her down and called her. She was amazed that the very first article she ever had published in 1975 had touched the lives of so many Military Brats.

We talked for about 30 minutes..it would have been much longer but she was on a deadline for her latest book! Soon we will do a podcast so she can tell her story of growing up military, and being a military wife. We have also created a beautiful 11x17 parchment (and a framed version) that is available in the Brat Store. For the first time in over 40 years, Debby will receive royalties for this inspiration to us all.

Here is a portion of the original...

I am a Military Brat

I am an Army Brat. My hometown is nowhere, my friends are everywhere, and if I haven't been someplace yesterday, I am sure to go there tomorrow. I grew up with bugle calls and artillery salutes and the knowledge that home is where the heart is and the family--with no dependence on the dwelling.

Mobility is my way of life. I have found security and happiness in motels and guest houses, in duplexes and apartments around the world. Some would wonder about my roots, yet they are as deep and strong as the mighty oak's. I sink them quickly, absorbing all an area offers and hopefully giving enrichment in return.

Like all Army dependents, I can say "Hello," "Good-bye," and count to 20 in five languages. I can tell of the shores of Maine, the marketplaces of Mexico, the Buddhas of Japan; and my knickknack shelves look like those of an import shop, for my memories span the globe.

The full copyrighted article continues exclusively by permission at http://www.MilitaryBrat.com/bratpoem.cfm

--
Marc Curtis
Military Brats Registry

The Brat Store

Remember...Every Brat Has a Story...what's yours?

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Entertainers join Elmo to help military families find 'new normal'

by Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

1/30/2009 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Sesame Workshop will air a PBS special Apr. 1 aimed at helping military families cope with changes.

Actor/singer Queen Latifah and singer John Mayer will join Elmo to present, "Coming Home: Military Families Cope with Change." The special carries a message for children whose parents suffered a physical or psychological wound in combat.

"Rosita's father is in a wheelchair and (she) talks to Elmo about her feelings," Barbara Thompson, director of the Defense Department's Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth, said. "Elmo very graciously says, 'You need to talk to your dad about that.'"

Rosita does talk with her dad and learns that even though they can't do all the things they used to, they can do other things.

"It gives this sense of relief that I can talk about the change. That my dad is still my dad (and) my parent is still my parent," Ms. Thompson said. "It's very powerful for ... parents to see ... what it's like from a child's perspective, what they're feeling and experiencing."

Having celebrities participate also adds value, beyond the "cool" factor, Ms. Thompson said.

"I think it ... draws a larger (portion) of the population to the issues that military families (face)," she said. "It shows, I think, people's interest."

The half-hour special, which will air at the beginning of the "Month of the Military Child," is a part of Sesame Workshop's "Talk, Listen, Connect" initiative, which began two years ago.

The first phase of the TLC program addressed the issues of multiple deployments and their impact on young children. It included the half-hour TV special, "When Parents Are Deployed," hosted by Cuba Gooding Jr.

The second phase, which includes the upcoming TV special, addresses the issues of changes, both physical and psychological, and the impact those changes can have on a family. It does this, in part, by telling the stories of servicemembers with challenges like post-traumatic stress disorder, and the struggles these families face in finding the "new normal," Ms. Thompson said.

To help parents communicate better with their children on these topics, the Sesame Workshop has created an informative kit in both English and Spanish. Defense Department employees served as subject matter experts for the Sesame Workshop kit, which contains two DVDs and printed materials.

"Of course (the Sesame Workshop is) the creative force behind it," Ms. Thompson said. "They know how to craft those messages so that children really benefit from the comfort of the Sesame characters."

More than 1.3 million kits are being distributed through Military OneSource, an online resource available to families 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The materials also are available through various military organizations. The Sesame Workshop Web site also offers a variety of resources, including printed material, and videos and music to help military families communicate about issues affecting them.

"The range of media tools available through 'Talk, Listen, Connect' truly provides fundamental ways for each family member to support each other through all stages," Gary E. Knell, president and chief executive officer of Sesame Workshop, said. "The deep impact of this project continues to inspire us, which is why we are excited to create (this) new special that will further champion the needs of the military community and will help these families ... find ways to be there for each other."

Sesame Workshop produced the special in association with Lookalike Productions and David Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated.

"The men and women of our military have made indescribable sacrifices," Mr. Letterman said. "The very least we can do is tell their stories, and to honor the bravery and strength of both the soldiers and their families."

The special is scheduled to air Apr.1 at 8 p.m. EST.

Armed Services YMCA

To deliver a bit of joy to our military families, the Armed Services YMCA is currently selling Christmas ornaments for $10.00 each.

To proudly show your support, printed on these white ornaments with an American flag is:

"God Bless America and Our Military Families."

Made from unbreakable acrylic, each ornament is packaged in a lovely box, making this a perfect stocking stuffer or gift for the office holiday exchange.

Please call (910) 436-0500 if you are in the Fort Bragg/Fayetteville area or mail $10 plus $3 S&H to:
Armed Services YMCA
208 Thorncliff Drive
Fayetteville, NC 28303

Proceeds from this sale provide support for military service members and their families experiencing hardship during the holidays.

Research Study for Military Brats

You are being invited to participate in a research study for adults who grew up in the U.S. Military (i.e., military "brats"). This survey will investigate childhood experiences, adulthood relationships, and cultural identity amongst adult military brats.

You are eligible to participate if you 18 years or older and grew up as a dependent in the U.S. military. The survey will take approximately 15-30 minutes. Your participation is greatly appreciated, and it will contribute to our understanding of growing up in the military.

Interested individuals should click the following link to be taken to the anonymous and confidential survey webpage:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=gKUyYXpREKnyHSvQt1zyPA_3d_3d

This survey is a dissertation study by Codi Schale, M.A. from the UMKC Department of Counseling Psychology and is not affiliated with Military Brats Registry. For more information, please contact Codi by email: clwmq7@umkc.edu.


Please feel free to forward this survey to anyone you feel may be interested. Permission is granted to post this message on listservs, webpages, emails, or announcements, and such advertisement is encouraged.

Missing WWII Airmen are Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of 11 U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

They are Capt. Robert L. Coleman, of Wilmington, Del.; 1st Lt. George E. Wallinder, of San Antonio, Texas; 2nd Lt. Kenneth L. Cassidy, of Worcester, Mass.; 2nd Lt. Irving Schechner, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; 2nd Lt. Ronald F. Ward, of Cambridge, Mass.; Tech. Sgt. William L. Fraser, of Maplewood, Mo.; Tech. Sgt. Paul Miecias, of Piscataway, N.J.; Tech. Sgt. Robert C. Morgan, of Flint, Mich.; Staff Sgt. Albert J. Caruso, of Kearny, N.J.; Staff Sgt. Robert E. Frank, of Plainfield, N.J.; and Pvt. Joseph Thompson, of Compton, Calif; all U.S. Army Air Forces. The dates and locations of the funerals are being set by their families.

Representatives from the Army met with the next-of-kin of these men in their hometowns to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the secretary of the Army.

On Dec. 3, 1943, these men crewed a B-24D Liberator that departed Dobodura, New Guinea, on an armed-reconnaissance mission over New Hanover Island in the Bismarck Sea. The crew reported dropping their bombs on target, but in spite of several radio contacts with their base, they never returned to Dobodura. Subsequent searches failed to locate the aircraft.

In 2000, three Papua New Guineans were hunting in the forest when they came across aircraft wreckage near Iwaia village. The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) was notified and began planning an investigation. In 2002, a JPAC team traveled to Deboin Village to interview two individuals who said they knew where the crash site was. However, the witnesses could not relocate the site.

In 2004, the site was found about four miles from Iwaia village in Papua New Guinea where a JPAC team found an aircraft data plate that correlated to the 1943 crash.

Between 2004 and 2007, JPAC teams conducted two excavations of the site and recovered human remains and non-biological material including some crew-related artifacts such as identification tags.

Among dental records, other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.