I really liked being able to travel a lot as a child. If you are growing up in Europe, it would be a shame to not get out and see the sites and experience the culture. I know there were some families afraid to leave the base. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you are blessed with the opportunity to live somewhere else in your life, then get out and explore! 

The Military Challenge Coin

This is a military challenge coin that was made to be presented to military brats. I like what words they chose to represent the life of a military kid: Adaptable, Bold, Responsible, and Tolerant. I do not own this one, but I honored with a military coin by the military when my father retired from the USAF. I keep it with me as a very special and treasured relic.

What is the history behind the challenge coins?
"During World War I, American volunteers from all parts of the country filled the newly formed flying squadrons. Some were wealthy scions attending colleges such as Yale and Harvard who quit in midterm to join the war. In one squadron, a wealthy lieutenant ordered medallions struck in solid bronze carrying the squadron emblem for every member of his squadron. He himself carried his medallion in a small leather sack about his neck. Shortly after acquiring the medallions, this pilot's aircraft was severely damaged by ground fire. He was forced to land behind enemy lines and was immediately captured by a German Patrol. In order to discourage his escape, the Germans took all of his personal identification except for the small leather pouch around his neck. In the meantime, he was taken to a small French town near the front. Taking advantage of a bombardment that night he donned civilian clothes and escaped. However, he was without personal identification. He succeeded in avoiding German patrols and reached the front lines. With great difficulty, he crossed no-man's land. Eventually, he stumbled into a French outpost. Unfortunately, the French in this sector of the front had been plagued by saboteurs. They sometimes masqueraded as civilians and wore civilian clothes. Not recognizing the young pilot's American accent, the French thought him to be a saboteur and made ready to execute him. Just in time, he remembered his leather pouch containing the medallion. He showed the medallion to his would-be executioners. His French captors recognized the squadron insignia on the medallion and delayed long enough for him to confirm his identity. Instead of shooting him, they gave him a bottle of wine. Back with his squadron, it became a tradition to ensure that all members carried their medallion or coin at all times. This was accomplished through a challenge in the following manner, a challenger would ask to see the coin, If the challenger could not produce his coin, he was required to purchase a drink of choice for the member who had challenged him. If the challenged member produced his coin, then the challenging member was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued throughout the war and for many years after while surviving members of the squadron were still alive."

What are the rules and customs of the challenge coin?
"Once endowed with possession of the Coin, these rules and customs bind you. Not complying with these long standing customs or any deviance from these rules will bring great disgrace and loss of respect to one's self and may be grounds for revocation of all Dawg titles and privileges.
The Coin must never be defaced or purposely damaged in any way. (Cannot be drilled for a necklace, key chain, etc.)
The Coin shall always be carried on one's person. Carried on one's person is defined by in one's pocket, sock, shoe or other garment that is on one's body. It shall not be carried in one's wallet, purse, or European carryall.
Carrying one's Coin in the shower is a sign of great respect, but is not required.
Any Dawg in good standing can initiate a Coin Check. The visible display of the Coin constitutes a Coin check. When a check occurs, all Coin holders will visibly present their Coin. Any Coin holder that cannot produce their Coin when checked, is then required to buy a round of drinks for the Coin holding group. If all Dawgs produce their Coins, then the person who initiated the check must purchase the round of drinks.
The holder of the Coin shall announce to all present they are producing the Coin for public display. Any display of the Coin without a verifiable announcement will constitute a Coin Check.
If one drops the Coin, it also constitutes an immediate Coin check for all those present.
If a person is Coin checked and produces the wrong/lesser Coin (anything other than a Wire Dawg Coin), the bearer must immediately purchase a round of drinks.
If the Coin is ever lost or misplaced, that person is still open to be checked at any time.
No one should carry more than one Coin at a time. Also, no one should own more than one Coin, unless stock is properly displayed paying the highest level of respect to the Coin. Merely stockpiling of Coins is disrespectful and held in the lowest regard.
The Wire Dawg Coin shall not be sold or bestowed upon non-Dawg personnel without the approval of the three Senior Wire Dawgs in your section. Drinks may be hard or soft or a mix of both. All dawgs who refrain from consuming hard drinks are by no means excluded from the age-old customs of the Coin and shall not be looked upon with disrespect."

Celebrating American holidays Overseas

My family had just moved to Naples, Italy from England shortly before this photo was taken. We were living at the hotel where all the military families stay when they are moving to or from Naples. We went to the NEX and Zoe picked out a ready-to-wear Ragedy Anne costume and I picked out some accessories to go with what I already owned, so I could be a cat. I remember another military couple in the elevator asking me if I was 'cat woman'. This year we received the most candy ever from Halloween. Being stationed overseas, you may not think that would be possible. We went trick or treating through out the hotel and then we went trick or treating at the 'towers' where many military families lived. Though we were not on US soil, it didn't mean Halloween was cancelled for the children. This is one reason I really enjoyed my childhood of being a military brat. The camaraderie that is displayed between all the military families and personal on base. I am really happy my parents helped intergrate us into the local culture, instead of being on base 24/7. But also having that feeling of family and pride of our country among other Americans was a huge blessing to me. We were all living a kind of life, many people don't experience. So going through it together was really special.

The Military Brat's Friendships

When I was around 3 yrs. old we moved from England to Sumter, SC. This is the first house that was my home in the states. As you can tell, I took up tap and ballet. I don't have very many memories from here during the brief 2 years we lived here. My childhood in the states was brief. So many memories have been captured into photographs. I am posing with two girls from church. In 'normal' circumstances, I might have grown up with these girls and gone to school with them. We would have had so many stories to share about our experiences of growing up in this town. The life of a military brat is much different. You make friendships that last sometimes only while you are both living in the same place at the same time. When you move you accept the fact that you may never meet again and that you will have to make new friends and start a new chapter of your story with them. Though it may seem like a hard way to grow up...I woudn't change my childhood for the world.