My Life as a military Brat, both good and bad
THE GOOD
I was born Septemeber,1965 at Beale Air Force Base California after my sister was also born there before me and my brother was born in Oscoda Michigan three years later. We lived there at that time, and it seemed like we were moving every three years. My father was an Air Traffic Controller for his whole career. We lived at Grissom AFB Indiana, Clark Air Base Philippines from 1975 to 1978, Langley AFB VA, and to Pope AFB North Carolina before retirement.
The Good! From age ten to thirteen I found living on a tropical island was amazing! We went to DOD schools with people from all walks of American life/ The same was true for all the other bases we lived and went to school. There were no problem children in anyone’s classrooms because the military would hold the parents accountable who were in the service. Everyone got along and our education was second to most. While in the Philippines, we went on field trips often all over the country to Manila, Subic Bay Naval base. Baguio resorts, and other sites of interest.
Our classes were uniquely designed to make you think. For example, we had alternated first through 7 periods that constantly rotated every next day, so the second day was not first period but what the next day from the last was. Sports were always encouraged so we all played in leagues but with the actual copies of pro league designs in the United States.
When we went into Angeles’s city outside of the gate, there were still left over WWII jeeps that served as taxis as well as vehicles from the 1940s that were left behind. My father bought a 1947 Ford while we were stationed there. The shopping and the food were amazing! Everyone in our housing areas had maids, yard care and cooks that prepared meals for us for cheap to us wages. The number one thing we did was have fun with our neighbors. We often marveled at the volcano. Mount Pinatubo was featured in many paintings and wood carvings you could buy in town. We bought them before we moved.
THE BAD
Any tropical Island has its problems such as the oppressive heat, volcanoes, rabies threats such as wild drivers, and occasional thieves. In 1991 Mount Pinatubo erupted June 15, the world’s largest volcanic eruption to happen in the past 100 years. Totally devastating to the region. I have heard from many Filipinos that everything has changed dramatically, and it is more like a resort in any areas.
Our home apartment was on the edge of a big hill that if you walked up and climbed back down you would see the school at the bottom of the hill. One day the Philippine workers showed up and burned the hilltop and all kinds of snaked came out that we never knew were there!! Another time we went to school and the classrooms were blocked by security staff who were turning people away warning of Philippine Cobras on the property.
Even at the apartment complex we lived in bats would attack us from high areas and the outfield positions when we played baseball. Everyone had Geckos in their homes they couldn’t get rid of, so we all named our own Gecko(s), Ours was Herkimer. They were sometimes transparent geckos, but none of them sold auto insurance IJS. Despite all the dangers and certain situations, I would never change the life I had as a military dependent for any other experience.
Kevin L White is a 30 year retired Air force veteran. He is currently a government contractor on the Air forces newest tanker platform: The KC-46. He mentors youth on career options and encourages development paths to success. Kevin currently lives in Dayton Ohio with his wife Carolyn.
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