Who am I? A Boomer Military Brat

Just the facts (as I remember them):

I am a USAF officer's brat (I know this is true). I did not travel as much as some of my other childhood military friends, but I moved enough.

I graduated from a small town high school, but I only attended it for a year and a half. Still, some of my roots remain there. Certainly, living in the north central part of Texas made a lasting impression on me. Not sure why the government put an AF Base there, but they did. Must have been because of "pork". You know, payback by a politician who owed someone a big favor.

Did you see the movie The Last Picture Show? Well, in the late '60's, my high school was located in a town somewhat like that one. Small western oil town USA.

My dad was in the Air Force and I moved to Wichita Falls when I was a Junior in High School. I caught a bus in the early morning and rode it to school. In those days, all us military kids were bussed and it was not for segregation (what is that?-- you millennials are thinking). Not many of us had cars of our own, either.

Being exposed to "Burk" (what we called Burkburnett) was definitely an education. I loved every minute of of that exposure to Texas Pride. I still wonder if the Dairy Mart (was it called that?) is still there and if it still makes those wonderful Chili Burgers. Have you ever had a frozen "Scotchie" (like a peanut butter cup, but made with butterscotch flavors). What about a Frito Pie? That's where I first had those "fast foods".

Before I moved to Burkburnett, TX, my family was stationed on Clark AFB in the Philippine Islands. I attended 9th and 10th grades at Wagner HS located on the base. Life was a paradise. Truly. Swimming all year long--think tropics.

Every household had at least one maid and a yardboy--not because we were rich! It was because the cost of living was so cheap in the Philippines.

Mothers never had to cook; teens never had to babysit younger sibs. The military ran buses to all the places one needed to go, so kids had a "free run".

In a way it was good; in a way it was not so good. (Read between the lines: "Not a lot of parental supervision.")

The era was the mid-sixties. I was in the PI when the Vietnam War escalated. I still remember watching fighter planes take off from the airfield heading into the sunset. Because of some kind of treaty, the planes had to land somewhere else before heading to 'Nam to drop whatever was on board.

I also remember that some of my friends volunteered to carry wounded soldiers off cargo planes coming from the war.

My Dad was assigned to the hospital, there. He saw the results of the war. It took its toll on him. We were sent home to the states early because of his stress level. I seem to remember hearing "heart attack". He was in his 30's.

Wow. What a time it was. I would not trade my experiences. It has contributed to who I am.

For better or for worse.