We were in the Philippines twice. The first time was 1968-1970 and schools were in double session and the second time was from 1973-1975. I can remember thinking how hot it was when we arrived. The heat hit you like a wall when you stepped off the plane. While attending Grissom Elementary on our first tour, I remember getting up very early to go to school during the early session. Getting on the bus in the dark seemed very strange to me.
What surprised you the most about the Philippines? What did you like best about living there?
Having someone in our house to help my mom. It seemed very strange at first. Mom definitely tried to make sure that our lives did not get too pampered though. Paz and Mary were not allowed to make our beds or pick up our rooms. They did sneak in and help us out every once in a while when mom wasn’t looking. I was also so very impressed by the sew girl that would come and make us clothes. We could just give her a picture and she could produce it. Amazing skills!
Did you really miss anything from the States and if so, what?
I can remember missing Levi’s and McDonald’s as icons of being stateside. But I have to say the thing I think I missed the most was milk that had not been reconstituted. It was a major compromise on our mother’s part to allow us to drink it with chocolate syrup while we were there. Even then, I can remember not liking it and drinking as little as I could get away with!
The first year I was there I hung out with Liz Smith and the Lawton twins, Lindy and Cindy. We all lived up on the hill and Liz and I lived just a couple of blocks from each other. It seemed we were always making new friends as people came and went. I hung out with the cheerleaders as we worked on things together (Barb Porter, Donna Lamoreaux, Trina Massey, Sue Wragg) and a couple of other girls I felt close to were Lisa Dobbs and Judy Baker. There were many girls I connected with, but I have to admit I was a little boy crazy at that time in my life.
Where did you hang out?
The first year we were there, my sister, Brenda, had a horse out at the stables and I can remember spending a lot of time out there. We also hung out at the teen club and the baseball, football, sport du jour fields watching the guys play. Between the buses and the little car that our parents let us drive, we were certainly not hanging out at home very much. I still remember many evenings spent at the Bamboo Bowl theater. I know I went to many movies there, but mostly remember walking around the track, not sure how many of them we actually watched!
While I was at Clark the first time, I attend 6th grade and had two teachers who team taught the curriculum. As students we were constantly mixed and regrouped and did all kinds of hands on experiments and presentations or skits. I cannot remember the teachers names, but can remember being completely enamored with them and having them to our house for dinner. They were both young and single. What a blast they must have had.
During our second tour there were so many great teachers and again the curriculum was very innovative for the time (I am now in education and think the PI education was the best of all worlds). I do remember a new teacher who came in during my junior year named Jan Farrow. She was a history teacher and had us doing reenactments of some of the trials that were related to war crimes. Again, truly found ways to make the curriculum come alive. I also remember her because she was new and I really felt like we got to know her on a very personal level. Not sure how long she stayed.
Did you have a part time job - what was it?
No part time job while there. I do remember helping with some of the gymnastic classes while I was there, but there was no compensation. My sister volunteered in the hospital as a “candy striper”.
I think I had a crush on everyone at some time. Like I said I was a little boy crazy.
Have you become closer to a Wagnerite that you didn't know well in high school because of a reunion?
It wasn’t because of a reunion, but the base we went to after our tour at Clark. Our family was stationed at a base in Abilene, Texas and Mike Wurschmidt’s was also. We ended up in different high schools. He had been there prior to going to the PI so he knew many people and the area. Our houses were not too far apart and having a friend who had had the PI experience was great at that time. Having gone from the tiny Wagner HS to a mega HS in Texas was quite overwhelming. Mike was the greatest kind of friend I could have asked for at that time. He dated Sue Wragg in the PI and I knew him a little then, and felt so blessed to have his friendship in Texas. The nicest guy you would ever want to meet! I wish I knew where he ended up.
My experiences in the Philippines and at Clark Air Base in particular have been central to many of my beliefs. The experiences of seeing the POW’s come back through Clark Air Base and when the children of Operation Baby Lift came through shaped a belief system of hope and compassion. Being part of the military family as children gives you a perspective on the responsibility our country has to others and what it means to say we are all in this together. The ability of a school culture to exist without turmoil and to embrace all cultures is not only possible, we lived it!
Give us a brief update on your life now: family, career, hobbies, etc.
I am still married to an incredible man, Ken Danielson. We have three grown children (Gayle, Kyle and Kory, who is in the Navy) and I am a grandmother to two fabulous grandchildren. My siblings, Brenda in Louisiana and Randy in Washington, and I get together whenever we can. Can’t wait to see many people at the reunion, if you are on the fence, I can’t recommend it enough! Wagnerites are great company any time! You can find Lisa on Facebook.
Pictures: #1 Lisa with the Lawton twins, Cindi & Lindi, #2 Lisa at the horse stables with the "stable bums", #3 Cheerleading, #4 Lisa with Alan Neese, Lynn Eby, John Ibanez, Liz Smith Cole, & Lori Neese, #5 Lisa and husband, Ken, and son Kory.
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