Military Brats

Both Toni and Barbara were “Military Brats” – reared in the US Air Force. The Dandelion has been adopted by Military Brats as their flower, because of the wide dispersal of its seed by the wind. Our heritage is as broad as America and our roots run throughout the American experience. We have watered the Tree of Liberty with our blood. We cherish our part in our nation’s diversity.

Military Assignments

The hardest question for a Military Brat to answer is where are you from? There were periods of “unaccompanied tours,” but when possible the families moved with our military service member. This gave rise to the ability to be “at home” anywhere. It also encouraged the development of superficial relationships, which was a defensive mechanism to avoid the pain of separations. In a post-dependent world the lost of an I.D. card was a difficult experience. A carryover from the Military Brat era is a wanderlust that makes getting on the road again a constant yearning. Our family adopted Blanding, Utah, as our answer as to where we are from.

Toni’s father served in the following military units:

Kelly Field, TX - Basic Training – 2/1941-6/1941
Gardner Field, CA - Air Corps Flying School – 6/1941-6/1942
29 Palms, CA - Sixth Army Air Force Glider Training Detachment – 6/1942-6/1943
Pecos AAF, TX - Army Air Force Basic Flying School – 6/1943-1/1944
Philippines - 13th Air Force - Leyte & Luzon Campaigns – 2/1944-4/1945
Las Vegas AAF, NV - Army Air Forces Base Unit – 5/1945-12/1945
Kelly Field, TX - 4121st Army Air Forces Base Unit – 5/1946-8/1946
Clark Field, Philippines - 13th Air Force – 9/1946-7/1947 (Guam 2/1947)
Fort Worth AAF, TX - 8th Air Force – 8/1947-7/1948 (Kwajalein 2-3/1948)
Walker AFB, Roswell, NM - 509th Bomb Group – 8/1948-8/1949 (Berlin Air Lift)
Carswell AFB, TX - 7th Food Service Sq – 9/1949-8/1950
Limestone AFB, ME - 4215th Base Service Sq - 9-12/1950
Brooks AFB, San Antonio, TX - 34th Radio Sq Mobile – 1/1951-8/1951
Rhein-Main AFB, Frankfurt/Main, Germany – 9/1951-8/1952
Cambrai-Fritsch Kaserne, Darmstadt, Germany - 6910th Security Group, 9/1952-3/1953
Landsberg AFB, Germany - 6900th Security Wing – 4/1953-5/1954
March AFB, Riverside, CA - 26th Radio Sq Mobile – 6/1954-8/1955
F.E. Warren AFB, WY - 3450th INSTLGRU – 9/1955-8/1958
Sheppard AFB, TX - Sheppard Technical Training Center – 9/1958-11/1961
Goose AB, Labrador, Canada - Goose Air Defense Sector – 12/1962-5/1964
Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ - 803rd Combat Support Group (SAC) – 6/1964-6/1965
Dyess AFB, TX - 96th Combat Support Group (SAC) - 7/1965-1/1971

Barbara’s father served in the following military units:

Enlisted Reserve Unit – 8/ 1942-3/1943
Nashville AAFCC, TN 3-4/1943
Maxwell Field, AL - Pre-Flight (pilot) – 5-6/1943
Camden, SC - Primary Flight (pilot) – 6-7/1943
Sioux Falls, SD - Radio Operator & Mechanic 7-12/1943
Yuma AAF, Yuma, AZ - 306th SEFTG (Aerial Gunnery) – 12/1943-2/1944
Rapid City, SD - R.T.U. – 2-5/1944
Kimbolton RAF, England - 524th/379th Bombardment Group (H) – 7/1944-1/1945
Laredo AAF, TX - 524th Bombardment Squadron – 3-9/1945
USAF Reserve – 1/1949-4/1951
Lowry AFB, Denver, CO - 3415th Technical Training Wing – 4/1951-12/1953
Donaldson AFB, SC - Fourth Aerial Port Operations Squadron (TAC) – 1/1954-5/1954
Chateauroux AB, France - Fourth Aerial Port Operations Squadron (TAC) 5/1954-5/1957
Chanute AFB, IL - 3499th Mobile Training Wing – 6/1957-8/1957
Sewart AFB, TN – 2nd Aerial Port Squadron - 8/1957-8/1958
MacDill AFB, FL - 306th Air Refueling Sq (SAC) – 8/1958-7/1959
Sheppard AFB, TX - Sheppard Technical Training Center (ATC) – 7/1959-10/1961
Chateauroux AS, France - 1616th Support Squadron (MATS) – 11/1961-7/1962
Evreux-Fauville AB, France – 5th Aerial Port Squadron – 7/1962-8/1963
Sheppard AFB, TX, TX - 3782nd Instructors Squadron (ATC) – 8/1963-4/1971
Little Rock AFB, AR - 61st Tactical Airlift Squadron (TAC) – 4/1971-8/1971

As a Military Brat, Toni lived in Germany from 1952 until 1954. Germany was still under reconstruction. Evidences of the Nazi past were still prevalent. He lived in the following towns:

Frankfurt/Main
Darmstadt
Landsberg/Lech

Toni lived in Landsberg during the sixth grade. This is where Adolf Hitler wrote Mein Kampf. As a twelve year old, Toni found his way through the blocked entrances to the underground slave labor camps where the Messerschmitt jets were built. He also found human body parts. He was traumatized by the experiences for years afterwards. The Displaced Persons (DP) Camp was still occupied at this time and he accompanied his father into these camps where black marketing activities took place.