Life On Military Bases

Life on base was normal for us Military Brats, but very different from what civilians experienced, who often were only a few miles away outside the main gate.

A Love of Books: The Post Library

Every post had at least one library for book lovers and a little piece of America in the form of magazines and newspapers.

Quonset Huts

For some Military Brats, living quarters were very different from mainstream Americans. Quonset Huts were used for housing, school rooms, mess halls, storage and more. This article is a history of the Quonset Hut, an American icon.

Immunizations

While I loved to travel overseas, getting our shot records up to date before leaving was . . . a pain—in the arm.

I my first encounter with the "shot doctor" before going to Germany in 1962. It would not be my last.

Developing Bargain Hunting Skills

Military posts are often thought of as places where rough, scrappy civilians are turned into lean, mean, fighting machines.

But military posts are also where Military Brats learned the value of a dollar and how to stretch a dollar using shrewd bargain hunting skills taught by their parents.

The Great Skunk Safari

Hunting skunks can be a lot of fun—if you know what you are doing.

Rags to Riches

My father seemed to handle the stresses of his career very well. There was one strange thing he was hung up on that I could never understand.

For all of you that have had to go through similar quirks and crappy treatment, here is a story on how providence gave me my comeuppance.

Making a Buck at Beale

"We have one job left."

"Ok!"

"It requires one year of janitor experience. Do you have one year of janitor experience?"

Sitting at the bottom of that missile silo that first night on the job convinced me having high connections that get you into low places can be a good thing.

Earning Extra Money

Regular paying jobs for Military Brats were scarce or non-existing on many military bases, but somehow we found ways to earn a little extra money to stretch our weekly allowance.

Libraries

Post libraries provided a quiet, organized place to learn more about the world, work on term papers, find a novel to read or check out the latest Playboy centerfold.

The Parachute

In a time when there was no TV broadcasts, many Military Brats found hobbies and reading to occupy their time, as we did.

One day an orange and white parachute came into our lives.
Home | Get Published | Contact Us | Links | About Us | FAQs