Overseas Brats - 20 People

JOIN OSB 20 PEOPLE

TWENTY PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE, OR
ARE MAKING, AN IMPACT ON OUR LIVES

For almost 14 years, I have met thousands of "Overseas Brats," and certain individuals stand out in the crowd, and have made some notable contributions to the Military or Overseas Brats communities. Each in their own special way (in my opinion) has contributed something unique to this whole process, which I admire. Most have some common characteristics that attract them to others. They tend to be very thoughtful, giving, optimistic, see the greater good in all of us, avoid controversy, and are highly respected. At OVERSEAS BRATS functions they tend to attract a crowd.

Some of these individuals have been around awhile, others have since moved on to other things, and still others are now showing a lot of potential. They are listed in alphabetical order with a short statement about their accomplishments and achievements.

Who do you think are some of the most notable Military Brats or Overseas Brats around? By this I mean people who have actually contributed to this process, not including famous personalities who are Military or Overseas Brats. Let me know!

— Joe Condrill, President
joeosbpres@sbcglobal.net

THE TOP 20 INCLUDE:

Joan McCarter Adrian (Nurnberg HS/Germany'49)
She's been involved with her Nurnberg Alumni Assn. and OVERSEAS BRATS since day one, and has been an enthusiastic and visible supporter of these and AOSHS. As one of our senior "Brats," Joan has a very strong sense of history (she saw a part of the Nurnberg Trials).
Samuel L. Britten (Military Brat - lived in Vicenza/Italy)
His Third Culture Kids (TCK) website is drawing a lot of interest. He offers a unique perspective in his course sessions on the Brat experience.
Cheryl Wallach Browning (Alconbury HS/England'86)
Above and beyond creating an official OVERSEAS BRATS website and her own Alconbury website in 1998, she's become an expert on creating websites.
Joy Harper Bryant (Wagner HS-Wainwright HS/Tainan/ Taiwan'71)
Years ago, when she got her Wainwright group going, she was among the first group contacts that saw the benefits of getting involved with other groups. Over the years she has served in a number of capacities with OVERSEAS BRATS and AOSHS. Probably one of the most highly esteemed women "Brats" around.
Marc Curtis (Military Brat)
His Military Brats Registry is probably the most visited web site for Military Brats with more than a half million visitors since it was introduced in 1997. In the last year he introduced a new Military Brat publication called, "On The Move," which is attracting attention. He has done an incredible job of uniting Military & Overseas Brats.
Harry Damm (Honorary OVERSEAS BRAT)
Harry is a non-brat, who is the regional director of sales for Premier Resorts. He's been involved with Overseas Brats reunions since 1992 and is a regular at the annual OVERSEAS BRATS Gatherings, where he has been an instructor and an excellent speaker who teaches a "win-win" philosophy in working with hotels on reunions. The respect he has achieved is like that of E. F. Hutton: When he speaks, everyone listens. And when he speaks, everything he suggests is worth its weight in gold.
Joan Dickson (Heidelberg HS/Germany'58)
Among the earliest to organize and create an alumni group, she was quick to see how her alumni group could benefit from being involved with overseas alumni affairs, and has involved her alumni group over the years accordingly. While not as visible or as vocal as some, the support of this retired Federal Civil Service Senior Executive (that's like a general or admiral) is critical to the success of any event.
Dr. Tom Drysdale (Educator)
In just 10 years he has galvanized both those associated with overseas schools as former students and their educators, with the American Overseas Schools Historical Society (AOSHS). The Historical Park, which was just a dream a couple of years ago, is now becoming a reality. He's highly thought of in the Brats community. One group contact said, "He's like our dad."
Jeri Polansky Glass (Berlin HS/Germany'72)
A vivacious woman who, in the last four years, has contributed unselfishly of her time to rebuild and reenergize her Berlin alumni group, and is now working with AOSHS and OVERSEAS BRATS to shape their futures. She has made a major impact in these areas in just a short time. Her star is still rising.
Glenn Greenwood (Ramey HS/Puerto Rico'73)
A natural leader in his own right, he helped get his Ramey alumni group going, played key roles in the first two all-school reunion events, helped OVERSEAS BRATS, and has served AOSHS in a couple of leadership positions. Among men "Brats," he is highly thought of.
Linda Yetter-Irvine (Zweibruecken HS/Germany'79)
Although Linda has been involved with her alumni group for more than 14 years, only in the last couple of years has she begun to get involved with the Brat community through her reunion-planning business, The Reunion Brat. Just recently, she was the general manager of the highly successful and acclaimed Homecoming'99, and was also appointed to the same position for Homecoming 2001.
Margie Prater Kugler (HH Arnold HS/Wiesbaden/Germany'68)
Margie is yet another unique person who has provided energy at the right times to her alumni group, overseas alumni affairs, and AOSHS.
Mike Leonard (Frankfurt HS/Germany'71)
His Overseas Brats Online Web Site has seen more than 200,000 visitors since it opened in 1995, and has done much to get Brats back in touch.
Gene Moser (Operation Footlocker-Camp McGill ES-Negishi Heights ES/Yokohama/Japan).
In 1996, he became one of three Brats that conceived and supported the concept of a mobile memorial that would display our history at reunions and gatherings, called Operation Footlocker. From that beginning, Operation Footlocker has grown into two footlockers containing priceless artifacts of 50 years of the Overseas and Military Brat heritage. He's been extremely active in Military Brats Internet forums, and is widely regarded as a leader in the Military & Overseas Brats communities.
Susan Schubert (Narimasu HS/Japan'54)
Although most Brats aren't aware of it, Susan is the first Brat to serve on the AOSHS board as a Vice President, and at a time when AOSHS is rapidly growing and has some exciting things happening.
Sunny Taylor Schwentner (Agana JHS-Kubasaki HS/Okinawa'62)
From day one, Sunny has been extremely involved in nearly all activities related to her Kubasaki alumni group, OVERSEAS BRATS, AOSHS, and overseas alumni affairs as a leader, and is widely known and respected. If Sunny is involved with an organization or project, you can count on success.
Cam Strong (Bitburg HS/Germany'66)
Between 1986-91, Cam played an extraordinary role in recruiting people from all groups to be involved with overseas alumni affairs. An excellent speaker and motivator, his course sessions at the annual OVERSEAS BRATS "gatherings" were well-attended, and he was often sought out to provide help and advice. He was an excellent role model as an alumni group contact, and someone who was universally well-thought of.
David Thatcher, Jr. (OSCAR - Orleans HS/France'62)
One of the earliest pioneers in overseas alumni affairs, he created, in 1985, the Overseas Schools Combined Alumni Registry (OSCAR). Although OSCAR is no longer operating, in its earliest years it provided a lot of support to fledging alumni groups.
Dr. Ruth Hill Useem (Non-Brat)
How does this non-brat rate? She's a pioneer in university studies about Overseas Brats, and is accredited with coining the term, Third Culture Kids. For more than 40 years, through Michigan State University or on her own, she has reported on our experiences through numerous projects.
Johnny Walker (Stuttgart HS/Germany'60)
Someone who has been in the background where activity has been concerned for more than 10 years, he has of late been playing a significant contributor role with AOSHS and OVERSEAS BRATS.