9 Celebrity Military Brats Share Their Thoughts on Military Life

Every 4th of July, people across the country (and overseas!) gather together to celebrate the freedom we all enjoy as Americans. There are barbecues and small town parades, fireworks and hot dogs. Many in the military community reflect upon their own service or the service of a family member and their commitment to upholding that freedom. To maintain that commitment, there are challenges and opportunities that every military family experiences. For some military kids, their entire lives were shaped by the years their parents spent in the service. Some will join the service themselves, while others will go on to different careers entirely, but carrying with them their unique perspectives. We've compiled a list of 9 celebrities that grew up as military brats and the perspectives they share as a result of their upbringing. Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley Actresses, Television Personalities Tia Mowry-Hardrict "The one thing that I do remember, was just living on base. You can step outside of your home and see people who are serving your country. It just gave me great pride to be around such strength and courage." Tamera Mowry-Housley "I think a lot of the times people, especially nowadays, have gotten complacent with our safety. [...]We don't realize that there are men and women dying every day just so we can stay safe. Whenever I go to bed, I know that there are people who aren't sleeping to keep me safe." Source: Huffington Post Shaquille O'Neal Retired Basketball Player, Actor, Television personality "Things that I do in the community now as a professional player, I was doing it on post -- me and my father and my team were passing out food to other houses and collecting toys from people who didn't want their toys and taking them up to the children's hospital. Everything that I've learned, I've learned from growing up in the military." Source: www.army.mil LeVar Burton Actor, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and host of "Reading Rainbow" "You see, I'm an Army brat. My father was in the military, and when were stationed in Germany comic books were a treasured item we first read and then traded with one another. They also kept us connected to the popular culture back home." Source: HitFix.com Pat Conroy Author "Here is how my father appeared to me as a boy. He came from a race of giants and demi-gods from a mythical land known as Chicago. He married the most beautiful girl ever to come crawling out of the poor and lowborn south, and there were times when I thought we were being raised by Zeus and Athena. After Happy Hour my father would drive his car home at a hundred miles an hour to see his wife and seven children. He would get out of his car, a strapping flight jacketed matinee idol, and walk toward his house, his knuckles dragging along the ground, his shoes stepping on and killing small animals in his slouching amble toward the home place. My sister, Carol, stationed at the door, would call out, "Godzilla's home!" and we seven children would scamper toward the door to watch his entry. The door would be flung open and the strongest Marine aviator on earth would shout, "Stand by for a fighter pilot!"" Source: From his eulogy to his father, Colonel Don Conroy Jessica Alba Actress, Model, Business owner, The Honest Company "My mother grew up in a military family. Her mother and her father and her grandmother and her great aunt all worked in the Navy, and then my father when he was blessed with the information that I was going to be born, when he was 18 -- 19 years old, he joined the military. My mother was 18, and he wanted to get an education, and he wanted to support his family, and so the military allowed him to do that. He went into the Air Force. We lived on a couple different bases. The ones that I remember, one was in Biloxi, Mississippi, and then the other one that was sort of the more formative years, it was like age five to nine, was in Del Rio, Texas, Laughlin Air Force Base. I was really sad to leave when my dad decided to get out of the military, because you get -- I mean, it's really like such a safe environment, and everyone on base becomes your family. Source: CNN Robert Griffin III <img class="wp-image-4483 alignnone" src="https://militaryspouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Robert-Griffin-rg3-washington-redskins-qb-real-fantasy-football-player-statistical-analysis-team-injury-statistics-2012-era-stats-Aaron-M.-Sprecher-NFL.jpg" alt="Robert-Griffin-rg3-washington-redskins-qb-real-fantasy-football-player-statistical-analysis-team-injury-statistics-2012-era-stats-Aaron-M.-Sprecher-NFL" width="520" height="387" /> Quarterback, Washington Redskins "I'm a military kid, both parents in the military - Mom did 12 years, Dad did 21, served in two wars. So discipline is something that was huge. If you start something, you finish it. '" Source: Washington Post Johnny Damon Professional Baseball Player On his role in team USA: It's the only opportunity I might have to represent my country. I'm thrilled about it. I'm very proud to be an American. My father was in the military. It's just awesome representing our country. Marcia Gay Harden Actress "I was barely in my teens, living in Greece where my dad, an officer in the US Navy, was stationed," she says. "He took me and my four brothers and sisters to this ancient theater at the foot of the Parthenon, and we saw this amazing Greek drama." "Having a dad in the service was helpful. I was forever meeting new kids, going to new schools, moving to new neighborhoods. I was encouraged when I attended the American School in Germany. I read for a play, and the teacher said, 'You're good at this, Marcia Gay. You have a gift.' Source: The Christian Science Monitor Connect with us on Facebook!

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