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All smiles at Daegu American School screening in Korea!
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Reactions to the Film
"Thank you, thank you for making "Brats: Our Journey Home."
I can't begin to tell you how important it is to ALL of us brats.
For years I tried to forget about growing up overseas, to put that chapter of my life behind me.
Going to the Ankara reunion in Dallas recently was one of the most important things I've done in my life.
A lot of things fell into place. I finally accept my past. And I finally found my family.
Thank you, again."
-- Rebecca Jung, Brat
"What a colossal achievement. I am completely overwhelmed…
I thought I had covered this waterfront both intellectually and emotionally,
but how wrong I was…I was sobbing."
-- Sarah Bird, Author, The Yokota Officers Club
"When I saw an early rough cut of "Brats,"
I cried, and I'm not a military brat. You absolutely have to see this movie.
No matter what your parents did, if you grew up overseas, your journey home won't be complete without it."
-- Timothy Wurtz, Writer/Producer, "Hungry Hearts," Ankara High School, Class of '69
"A great big, giant hug to you for a job well done.
You will help the world more than you know with this release of a moving film that gives
all with this experience both an outlet for years of pent up memories and a voice for helping
others understand our lives before meeting them. Thank you from the bottom of my SAHS heart."
-- Jennifer Turney Krohn, Seoul American High School Alumni '65
"We are grateful for the work you have done to unpack the stories of military brats."
-- Mark Moitoza, Director of Youth Ministry, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
"Moving, provocative, inspirational, enlightening…"
-- Barbara F. Schaetti, Transition Dynamics and 'Global Nomad'
"This is grassroots guerilla filmmaking at its best."
-- VidExpo 2005, Denver, Colorado
"I just saw the film this weekend at the Ankara High School Reunion in Dallas.
It was FANTASTIC!!...I want my sisters to see it. Thank you."
-- Steve Northcutt, Florida
"This is the story of my life…"
-- Marc Curtis, Founder, Military-Brats Registry
"I am seriously considering showing it to my therapist.
I think it explains a lot of who I am and why I'm the way I am!"
-- B.F., Brat
"I wish I had seen 'Brats: Our Journey Home' before I taught in the Department of Defense Dependent Schools.
This film should be shown to all service personnel
as well as students and teachers in Department of Defense schools.
Sociology and psychology departments of colleges and universities
should also find this film of great interest."
-- Dr. Elmer Koenig, retired DoDDS Principal
"Finally, real form given to the unexplainable differences that make up a "brats"
life...the things we could not talk about even if we realized
them... the culture that still bonds us together..."
-- David Grant,
Military Brat
"Great film. Donna is a true, undiscovered ethnographer."
"Excellent film!"
"Very thought-provoking!"
"Outstanding!"
"Incredible-honest telling."
"Timely and thorough. Would like to see marketing to military populations and others."
"Lots of appreciation."
" Very interesting and comprehensive view of military brats.
Helps us realize the importance of acknowledging the role played by kids."
"Brilliant. Thoughtful. Unforgettable. Thank you!"
"The film raised issues that must be dealt with!"
"Very well done, artistically. Very thought-provoking."
"Incredibly deep and meaningful. Good to share all over!"
"Powerful!"
"I’d like to buy a copy to take to my children who were Air Force Brats.
It would help them with a lot of issues I wasn’t aware of until today. Outstanding!"
"Poignant and well done."
"Wow! Great movie! Very powerful and a must see!"
"Excellent film!"
"Remarkable."
"As a retired military and a DOD civilian working with families, the film was great!
Enjoyed the presentation thoroughly."
"Fantastic!"
"I thought the film was very impressive and hard to watch because of the depth of the pain expressed."
"Very important information. We need to consider the kids' side of relocation."
"Wow. Explained/revealed a lot about myself, I think, like so many other Military Brats."
"Wow!!! Awesome. Show this to everyone you can.
It’s very important history, especially now with Iraq."
"Simply...the best!
Thank you for your dedication, your time, your idea. You will set so many hurt souls free! Thank you!"
-- Reactions from Families in Global Transition Viewers
where we received an average evaluation of almost 9 out of 10
(8.7 to be exact)
"My step-mom saw your documentary at a class reunion for her American high school she attended with other
Brats in Turkey, during the early 60s... When she saw your film she raved about it to me and told me how powerful
she now felt documentaries really could be. Thanks...so much...for producing a doc that has really touched
my step-mom in a very special way."
-- Justin Bogardus, Producer, Nick Davis Productions
"The movie we saw really cleared up a lot of things for me."
"Yes, the movie was about all of us and the beauty is that we watched it together
and laughed together and cried together. I sure understand my quirks better.
It was beautiful to sit in that room and watch the movie and know everyone understood.
No explaining to do."
"So true. The laughs were as a unit. The gasps were as a unit. All the emotions were equal."
"We are ONE. Different walks of life. Different personalities.
Different all together but we still are ONE!... It was wonderful to have someone bring it to life."
-- Some remarks from Ankara alumni who saw the film...
"I haven't stopped thinking about the film, or talking about it...
"Because of my blabbering about it, I found (to my surprise) that one of my oldest
acquaintences...is a brat who actually lived in Korea in 1948... I never knew it."
-- Sherron "Sam" Dix Lawson, SAHS '61
"This documentary is fantastic. To all that were able to see it in Dallas,
it made quite an impact. To all that were unable to see it, you will hopefully get a chance."
-- Roger Redwanski, Ankara High School (Turkey), Class of "68"
"...everyone I spoke to absolutely loves your film!
I look forward to getting a copy and showing it to my children."
-- Maxwell Lee, Ankara High School
"I want to thank you again for coming to Dallas and showing us your film.
It was so powerful and I can't believe the changes in my life it's brought about already."
-- Ginger Cole Turner, Austin, TX
"I never believed a shoestring operation would come out with such a good product."
-- Joan Dickson, Heidelberg High School
"This is a documentary film about us - the military brats.
The film's story is about "belonging" to something special and it is gripping."
-- Glenda Casey Petrini, HHS '54
"BRATS: Our Journey Home explores this generation's "silent crisis":
why so many children were sad and confused while appearing to be tough, cheerful and confident.
Donna Musil challenges conventional expectations regarding the children of military members
during the cold war era and the Vietnam conflict. Her documentary serves as a testimonial
to the thousands of families caught up in raising their children through a toughening
process that drives their true emotions underground.
My connection with the crisis of this film is twofold, as a former
Department of Defense Dependent Schools teacher for 14 years and principal for 12,
I had the honor of having Donna in my third grade class during the 1967-68 school year.
The effect of this documentary on me personally has been profound.
Parents and teachers everywhere should be exposed to this material.
It would serve as a reminder to all of us that every child is vital and uniquely vulnerable.
When we understand what young people are experiencing, parents and teachers can help
them develop more self-confidence and the emotional savvy they need to deal with issues
such as depression, drugs, alcohol, sexuality and love.
Donna Musil's work is illuminating, exciting and courageous.
BRATS: Our Journey Home should be viewed by everyone concerned about children.
It is a beacon of hope and a gift to all of us."
-- Marlene D. Koenig, retired DoDDS Teacher & Principal
"This documentary celebrating the life of America's "third culture kids"
is a story with universal dimensions. It is at once a comprehensive and uplifting montage
of American children who became unwitting ambassadors of our culture as they accompanied
their military parents around the world and matured into global citizens.
Now their story is being told by the famous and the reflective ones who still feel
the impact of those cherished years. Its producer/director, Donna Musil,
has added a significant chapter to American history. As an educator in
Japan and Germany for the Department of Defense Dependents Schools for several decades,
I worked and learned with these military brats, a fascinating and unique breed."
-- Betty J. Nicholas, Retired DoD Teacher
Reactions to the Website
"The whole time I was reading your different pages, I was crying. I can't express
to you how profoundly this site has affected me."
-- Donna Catton-Johnson, Air Force Brat
"Thank you for giving us a voice."
-- Jillian Boldway, Army Brat
"I am 44 years old, ex-Air Force brat (and damn proud of it!), struggled with many
issues my adult life and after reading excerpts from your video, I realize where those issues come from!!!!!!!
It's ok now. There are missing pieces to me and I am not alone…
Very powerful and healing for me!"
-- Christina
"Thank you for making something that will mean so much to so many of us…
I just wish my Dad and Mom were here to watch with us."
-- Robin S. Bellingar, Army Brat
"I figured any project that had the support of Kris Kristofferson and Norman Schwarzkopf
deserved mine, too. Best of luck!"
-- William Burd
"Blessing to you for your work."
-- Ronda Owens Cotton, Army Brat
"This is the real deal..."
-- Glenda Findley, Daughter of a Warrior
"My wife and I read all there is in the preceding articles and by golly that answered most
of her questions on why I do things the way I do… Bless you for this program."
-- Marvin L. Jameson, Military Brat Since 1943
" Thank you for helping us all find "home" through your project."
-- Susan Allenback, Air Force Brat
"You're doing a tremendous service and will touch lives you don't even know about for years to come."
-- Liz Cain, Air Force Brat
"I just ran across your website and … I broke down and cried.
Being a military brat has totally disoriented me all of my life."
-- Ron Pierce, Military Brat
I just want to thank you, thank you for doing this!"
-- Roy A. Zeitvogel III, Military Brat
Other Reactions of Note
"Saturday was a day to remember. We will always cherish the kindness, hospitality,
friendship and enthusiasm you've shown us. We are still recovering from the shock of seeing
all these "beautiful people" gathered together celebrating their time spent in
Turkey and with Turkish people. We'd like to "thank you" from the bottom of our hearts,
for making us a part of your celebration and sharing your joy for life.
We've had the time of our lives."
-- Turkish merchants at the 2005 Ankara High School reunion in Dallas, TX
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