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Every child thinks their dad is a hero! Dads throw the ball in the front yard with you before
dinner; teach you how to ride your bike; help you learn to skate; coach your ball team; put on
Dress Blues for the Daddy Daughter dance and show up with a corsage. Being daddy’s girl was
the BEST!
My dad wasn’t always able to do those things because he was serving in the military, protecting
our country and preserving our freedoms. He was and will always be a true hero – he served in
the military for a total of thirty-five years; through three wars from WWII to Vietnam. I am so
proud to call myself a MILITARY CHILD!
The lives of today’s military children are very different than mine was back then. We didn’t have
Facetime. We sat by the phone waiting for those weekly calls. But we stayed in touch and
created memories in different ways while being thousands of miles apart.
My dad served in the United State Air Force, so his absences were called TDY. We called them
Temporary Duty Out Yonder! Some were less than six months, but others were longer and
“unaccompanied assignments.” One of my first memories of my dad’s upcoming TDY
assignments was when I was in kindergarten. My mom couldn’t drive. So, after dinner, my
brother and I were put in the back seat with books, crayons and paper while my dad taught my
mom to drive – a stick shift! By the middle of the second week, I had learned some new
vocabulary from my dad, so we stayed with the neighbors during driving lessons.
My mom always had the dining room table set up with paper and crayons. We constantly wrote
short, misspelled letters to daddy and sent an envelope once a week. Daddy called long
distance once a week – collect! We all talked at once about our adventures; then mom and dad
had their private chats. As we grew older, the letters turned into crafts and the boxes into
cakes, brownies, and cookies. The Bay of Pigs crisis brought a TDY assignment that felt
different. Conversations were in hushed voices. Preparations were made for a “Family Day”
before the planes flew out. At previous TDY assignments, we just went to the flight line and waved goodbye. This was different. The kids had a room for watching movies, playing games, and generally horsing around. Parents were in a smaller groups. Not as much laughing – more
concern; longer hugs goodbye. Thankfully they all came home safely. But the seriousness of
this TDY made me realize how important and dangerous my dad’s job could be.
Being a military child taught me several valuable lessons :
Adaptability – I went to13 schools in 12 years! I learned to make friends easily and
catch up on my schoolwork. I realize how it was easier because my school friends often
came from military families and had said goodbye to friends and then made new ones –
just like me!
Confidence and Independence – Sometimes I would be the “new kid” in class in the middle of the year. I learned to step out and join in. My parents would say I could carry on a conversation with a fence post; but it served me well. I also learned to be strong. Some of the TDY’s were harder on my mom, so I decided as the oldest to help out. I got stools and put them at the sink to do dishes. Even teaching my little brother to dry the dishes. We only had a few dish causalities!
Pride – And most of all, I learned PRIDE! I am proud to be a military child; proud my dad
served in the military protecting our freedom and proud I lived our nomadic lifestyle –
one new adventure after another. My brother always getting car sick and throwing up;
picnics on the road traveling to our new home; decorating my new room and hoping I
didn’t have to share my room with my brother; having my dad home to watch me play
softball and take me to the base hospital when I took a line-drive to the face.
Most of all learning my love of our great country, respect for what our flag stands for and truly
appreciate and admire the sacrifices all military families – spouses and children make every
day.
My life as a military child! WE BLOOM ANYWHERE!!
April 15th is Purple Up Day for Military Kids! Wear purple and show your support.
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