Billie Jo grew up in the beautiful blue grass state of Kentucky, USA, and expected to live there forever.  However, her lawyer father accepted a position with the US Legal Service and in 1947 took his family to Tokyo where he wrote the briefs for the prosecution of  the War Crimes Trials.  There she met Allen, recently graduated from RMC, Duntroon.  They married in Tokyo on 24 June 1950, and  we all know what occurred on the 25th.  Two months later 3 Battalion  RAR went to Korea and Allen went with it.

In February 1951, Allen and Billie Jo sailed into Sydney harbour aboard the SS Taiping and for the next 25 years served with the Australian Army.  Five children were born in as many places; houses were lived in and left and friends were made and farewelled, as is the nature of Service life.  However, they were days of adventure, laughter and love – treasured memories.

Billie Jo first joined the Australian-American Association in Brisbane in 1952.  Allen, the Army and the demands of a growing family took priority for years but in Canberra she and Allen re-joined and Billie Jo has had an unbroken membership since 1970.  These days her interests are 5 children, 16 grandchildren and  5 great grandchildren!  Plus, when time allows, travelling, music, reading and of course the AAA and good friends.