Ramona Lofton (Sapphire)

Ramona Lofton (Sapphire)
Image Credit: Facebook / Ramona Lofton (Sapphire)

Both of Sapphire’s (real name Ramona Lofton) parents were in the Army. They separated after leaving the military over a disagreement about where they would settle down. Her first book was a collection of poems titled “Meditations on the Rainbow.” However, she truly became known for “Push” which was published in 1996 and has sold hundreds of thousands of copies. It was eventually made into a film titled “Precious.”

Ray Allen

Ray Allen
Image Credit: WikiMedia Commons

Born at Castle Air Force base in California, basketball player Ray Allen spent most of his early life moving around the world, including stints in England, Oklahoma, California again, and Germany. Eventually, he went to high school in South Carolina, where he was picked on for his speech, which had gained a British accent due to spending his formative years in Saxmundham. However, his natural athletic skills and height allowed him to excel in basketball, leading his team to their first ever high school state championship game and ultimately resulting in an eighteen-year NBA career.


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Tia and Tamera Mowry

Tia and Tamera Mowry
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Tia Mowry and her twin sister Tamera were both raised in a military family since their father was in the US Army. After he got out, he worked as a custody officer in California. They first appeared in commercials and small roles but eventually starred in “Sister, Sister” after they were spotted on the set of “Full House,” where their brother, Tahj, made regular appearances.

Jackson Browne

Jackson Browne
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Browne was born in Heidelberg, Germany shortly after World War II, because his father was stationed there, working on “Stars and Stripes.” He had begun singing folk songs at local venues by the time he was a teenager and went on to work as a songwriter for other artists after graduating high school. He didn’t release his own album until six years later, but he hit the top ten chart almost immediately with “Doctor My Eyes.” Throughout his career, he’s sold over eighteen million albums and has been called one of the greatest songwriters of all time.

Valorie Burton

Valorie Burton
Image Credit: Facebook / Valorie Burton

The former Miss Texas runner-up turned motivational speaker got her start as an Air Force brat, moving around the country. She then started a marketing and public relations firm before starting a life coach and training company. Over the course of her life, she’s written a dozen books, including “Get Unstuck,” “Successful Women Speak Differently,” and “Rich Minds, Rich Rewards.”

Natalie Morales-Rhodes

Natalie Morales-Rhodes
Image Credit: Facebook / Natalie Morales-Rhodes

The “Today Show” anchor was born in Taiwan due to her father’s Air Force career. That career also led them to Panama, Brazil, and Spain before she eventually graduated from high school in Delaware. She started working in journalism while at WVIT-TV in Connecticut and quickly moved to be on-air at News 12 in the Bronx before going to MSNBC and “Today.”

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