CAMOUFLAGE CHRISTMAS RELEASE DAY! WOOT!

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If you read our “about” page you know that DeeDee and Susan became friends years ago (more than we want to admit because it makes us older!). They met at the Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference in Estes Park Colorado and Susan was on faculty and DeeDee was her first appointment. There as an instant connection and friendship that came out of that, probably because DeeDee can make friends anywhere. Part personality and part of being a Navy brat and an Army wife.

How did you come to write this book?

How can love blossom when dating is forbidden?

https://amzn.to/3THOFUF

Setting aside broken dreams of love and marriage, Samantha “Brooke” Cooper-Sanchez is determined to complete Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, so she can be a nurse in the Army Medical Corps. She wasn’t looking for love. Then surprise Christmas gifts begin showing up. Who is sending them and how does this person know her so well?

Bernard Travis has been friends with Brooke since high school. They’d remained in contact over the years, and now for the first time, she is available to pursue, except dating is forbidden in OCS. When she doesn’t realize who her mysterious gift giver is, Bernard begins to doubt he’ll ever win her heart. Will God make his fondest Christmas wish come true?

Buy Operation Camouflage Christmas today and discover an engaging novella of love, trust, and faith.

Brooke’s Story: Army Brat to Army Nurse and love?

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Meet Samantha “Brooke” Cooper-Sanchez, the female protagonist in our first installation in the Rules of Engagement Romance series! Operation: Camouflage Christmas is a novella available in ebook and print format! We hope you’ll enjoy it, and Brooke’s interview.

How are you connected to the military? What branch?

My father is an Army helicopter pilot, which makes me and my sisters military brats.

Where was your favorite place to live?

I loved the adventure of living in various places. I have a particular fondness for Fort Rucker in Alabama. Probably our longest stay and I finished high school there. Got my first glimpse of Bernard who I had a huge crush on.

What was the best thing about being an military brat?

I loved the traveling and seeing different parts of the world and immersing myself in culture. Probably one of the reasons I joined the Army myself.

What was the hardest thing about being a military brat?

Leaving friends behind when we’d move was always difficult. Thankfully I can keep in touch with most of them. My sister is a twin so I had a built in best friend with me wherever we went.

Where do you call home?

Wherever my mom is, that’s home.

What do you tell people when they ask, “Where are you from?”

Sometimes I say ‘Bama because that’s where I finished “growing up.” Most military brats don’t care where they’re from. We are more concerned with where we are right now.

Any advice for sponsors and families of children in the military?

Make home a priority and don’t sacrifice your children. Make every moment together all the more special. Life is uncertain and precious. Work hard, yes. Do your duty, absolutely, but make sure your family knows how much they are loved. My dad was great at this.

Why should people read Camouflage Christmas?

I lived it so maybe I’m biased, but the events in that story took me by surprise but God worked it all out in the best possible way. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but I for one am living a happily-ever-after moment with Bernard… remember the guy I met in high school? Yeah, he was there and it ended up being wonderful.

Doug’s Story: Brat to Soldier

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Which branch of service are you connected to? For how long?

I was an Air Force Brat for 27 years and an Army Soldier for 21. Now retired.

What was your best tour of duty location and why?

RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge. Friendly people, great scenery, and great food.

How do you answer the question, “Where are you from?”

All over the world.

Where do you call home?

I call Virginia home because it’s the longest place I’ve ever lived.

Thank you, Doug, for sharing your story!

Min’s Story: Army Brat

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Which Branch of service are you connected to and which State?

Army. Maryland was the last place.

How are you connected? What years?

Army brat. 1979-1994.

Best Tour of Duty location? Why?

Maryland. Weirdly enough I liked the area and my uncle was stationed there with my cousins who I’m really close to. I didn’t hear many people who grew up with extended family members nearby.

How do you answer the question: “Where do you come from?”

I’m from all over, but consider my home to be my current place.

Where do you call “home” and why?

I believe Maryland will always be my forever home, but San Antonio is starting to be. I finished school in San Antonio, TX, started my career there, met my partner here (also a military brat), and his family and my family are here.

Thank you, Min, for sharing your story!

Jolene’s Story: Army Veteran, Spouse and Raising Military Brats

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How are you connected to the military?

I am an Army Veteran, Army spouse, and raising to amazing military brats! It all started in 2010 and continues to this day.

Best tour of duty location?

That is a tie between Fort Wainwright and Fort Carson. Alaska was amazing. Truly a once in a lifetime experience. Northern lights and 24 hours of lightness cannot be described. You really need to see it to believe it. Fort Carson is amazing because of all the mountains but all the friends I’ve made there really made all the difference.

How do you answer the question: “Where are you from?”

I tell them I’m from Minnesota but then will add all the places we’ve been.

Where do you call home?

Home is wherever we are all together at.

Thank you, Jolene for sharing your story!

Caitlin’s Story: Once a Brat, Always A Brat

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What branch of the service are you connected to?

Most recently, the Air Force. Although, in doing genealogy, I am connected to all branches except the Coast Guard and the new Space Force.

Caitlin in the early 1990s wearing gear from the motor pool at Fort Bragg. The sneakers were from when Free Willy released.

How are you connected?

I am a proud Air Force brat.

What years were you or are you connected?

1986 to 1996, although I believe once a Brat, always a Brat.

Caitlin’s dad at Fort Bragg when they lived off base. Late 1980’s.

What was the best tour of duty location? Why?

Fort Bragg was my favorite. That’s where most of my memories are. There was so much a kid could do there. When Dad was gone, Mom took care of us – my sister and I. I feel she did the best she could. The late 1980’s – early 1990’s were pretty heated, and he was gone a lot between TDY, Gulf War, Haiti and general trainings.

How do you answer the question, “Where are you from?”

I ask them “do you mean currently, or historically?”

Where do you call home and why?

Home was wherever our mom and our stuff was. It’s still that way now that I’m a mom as well. We’ve moved a few times (non-military) and I always tell her that home is wherever I am for her.

Thank you, Caitlin for sharing your story!

Seth’s Story: An Army Helicopter Pilot Gives Advice

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Do you have any regrets?

I don’t really have any regrets. It was a different time.

Were you ever in combat?

Not officially.

What advice would you give someone who is planning to join the service?

Know what you want to achieve and have an idea of what your next thing after service is going to be.

What branch of the service would you advise them to join? Why?

That depends on what you want to get from it. If you want quicker promotions –  join the Army. If you want shorter deployments – join the Air Force.

Seth and his wife DeeDee enjoying a treat after a wedding. They now live their happily-ever-after in Colorado.

Would you want your kids to join the military?

It’s not something that I would want to recommend but I would support their decision.

Have any of your kids joined the military? If so, what branch?

No, but our daughter married an Army Master Sergeant.

Do you have any family members in the service or have served?

Yes. My oldest brother, Bob, served 20 years in the Air Force. My middle brother, Rick, served 4 years in the Navy. My dad, John, served in the Army Air Corps.

Do you think the Army is better now than when you joined? Why or why not?

It is not better now. Because the quality of life; increased deployments, and long-term combat requirements on the soldier and their family’s life.

Thank you Seth, for sharing your story!

Seth’s Story: On Love and Faith in the Military

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Did you get married while on Active Duty? Tell us about that.

No. We married between the time I was National Guard and Active Duty. We met while I was going through flight school. We didn’t have much time to get serious, so we played a lot of games (tennis etc.).

Experience

Besides being able to meet and marry my wife, we were able to adopt our first child in Panama. Our second child while at Fort Rucker, AL.

When I graduated from Officer Candidate School (OCS), I was commissioned and had to pick a Branch. I chose Signal because of my enlisted background as a Avionics Technician. During the two years between graduating from OCS and attending Flight School, I was required to attend a Combat Arms school as a commissioned officer.  I was stationed at Fort Sill, OK – the Home of Field Artillery.

Flight School Graduation Ball
DeeDee pinning on Seth’s wings

Upon graduation from Helicopter Flight School, I was awarded Aviation Branch wings. (See the picture of DeeDee pinning on my wings.) I was in the first class to graduate when Aviation became a Branch. I trained and was stationed at Fort Rucker – Home of Army Aviation several times throughout my career.

Faith: How did your faith change, how was it challenged, and how did it grow?

I was able to experience God in a deeper way based on where I was stationed. I accepted Christ during basic training. I grew in my faith in Panama. I matured in my faith in DC.

How did military life change you for the better or for the worse?

It changed me for the better. It gave me something to work toward and compete with others around the country. I learned about military traits – honor, respect, honesty, duty – that helped me to be able to improve my personal growth.

DeeDee sitting in front of Seth – Visiting DeeDee’s family during a family reunion in Blue Springs State Park, Blue Springs, AL 1990; on mid-tour leave from South Korea

Stay tuned for Seth’s advice!

Seth’s Story: Army Helicopter Pilot Service Deets

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How are you connected to the Military?

I am a retired Army pilot. I achieved the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4. I served 21 years Active Army and 9 years Army National Gard and Reserve.

Why did you join the military?

I was frustrated with civilian employment.

What types of helicopters have you flown?

TH-55 (training helicopter we only flew in flight school. (red helicopter shown)

 UH-1 (later in flight school and later on for approx. 3 years);

Ch-47 B/C model and then transitioned to the CH-47 D model for the remainder of my career.

Deployments or Duty Stations

I was never deployed. I did have duty stations in the following places:

  • PA Army National Guard
  • Fort Sill, OK
  • Fort Rucker, AL
  • Camp Humpries, South Korea
  • Fort Kobbe, Panama
  • CA National Guard – Stockton
  • National Guard Bureau, Washington, DC

Best and Worst Duty Assignments and Why?

Best was Panama. Getting to fly in paradise. Hottest and wettest I’ve ever been My favorite memory is flying over the ocean in Panama. Fort Clayton, Panama, was my favorite place to live

Worst was Korea. Difficult staff. Coldest I’ve ever been.

What foods did you learn to eat that you didn’t eat before joining the military?

Kimchi. Squid ceviche. Tofu. Curry. Chicken Bog. Sushi (real sushi). And MRE’s (meals ready to eat – an oxymoron)

What customs or habits did you learn in the military that you still do?

Watching, reading, reading and predicting the weather like any good pilot does. Measure distance based on dopler sound when I hear artillery. Short hair cuts. But…I don’t shave every day.

Any friends you remember? Do you keep in touch?

1Lt Dennis Wiebe – nope. Not since I retired.

Cpt Bob Barrett – yes. Through FB.

Why did you leave?

It was time to go.

Stay tuned for some more of Seth’s military life memories!

Eddie’s Story: Army Specialist

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Welcome back Eddie Mingus as he shares his experiences in the Army.

Tell Us About Yourself

I was a Specialist (SP4) in the United States Army from 1984-1989 and served as a military policeman.

Why Did You Join?

I was old enough and needed to get out of the house and get a job. Our family has a long history of Military service.

Where Were You Deployed?

I went to Rock Island Arsenal in 1986. I was assigned to an Ordnance company in Cakmakli, Turkey.

Where Were Your Duty Stations?

I was at Ft McClellan, AL; Seneca Army Depot, NY; Ft. Leonard Wood, MO; Cakmakli, Turkey; and Ft. Knox, KY.

Me in the Army – far left.

What Was Your Best Assignment, and Why?

I was always partial to Ft. Leonard Wood. I had many great assignments and met several people whom I’m still friends with to this day.

Worst Assignment?

Turkey. The unit I was assigned to seemed to hate MP’s.

How Did Military Life Change You?

I’m proud of my service. It was a good decision for me.

Where Was Home Before You Joined the Service and Where is Home Now?

I never had an attachment to my dad’s hometown since he was in the Navy and I traveled around a lot as a kid. I currently live in Tampa, Florida.

Were You Ever In Combat?

I never did while I was in service. Back in 2008 I retired from my job and did some private contracting work for the Department of State in Afghanistan.

What Did You Learn to Eat that You Didn’t Eat before Joining the Military?

For me it was Turkish foods. I have come to really like a lot of their food such as doner kebap.

Advice for Those Planning to Join the Service

See the world and live your life. Take chances. Meet new cultures. Take lots of pictures. Get out of your comfort zone. Jump from airplanes. Test your limits.

Love in the Military

When I was in the service I had not dated much. I went overseas to Turkey and met someone who I thought had good family values. It wasn’t so. After about eight years we got divorced. From that relationship I became the father to a little girl. Best thing that ever happened.

Eddie now – in Tampa Florida

Thank you for your service Eddie! And thank you for sharing your story! God bless!