Another Fine Navy Day

California Congressman Bob Dornan earned the nickname of "B1 Bob" due to his own military service and his support for those who served in uniform. When he called upon the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy to discuss some enlisted military matters it was an opportunity too good to pass up. I was fortunate enough to be allowed into the meeting which resulted in a discussion that ultimately had nothing to do with the military.

Spending a holiday at Recruit Training Command is a challenging way to enjoy the season. The work of preparing to join the Fleet continues, but we were promised a traditional meal . . . or so I thought.

American forces assigned in support of Operation Restore Democracy worked hard to find the right way to celebrate Christmas in Haiti in 1994. One of the activities was a volleyball tournament where an unlikely team drew a big fan base.

In early September 1987 the crew of USS Valley Forge (CG 50) were anxious to visit a liberty port. After more than two months in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman the sight of Perth, Australia, was very welcoming indeed.

In late 1993 credible threats suggested the University Compound in Mogadishu, Somalia was in danger of an attack. Our personnel at the Armed Forces Network facility were tasked with preparing to fight off any armed assault, but our resources were limited.

While working on the staff of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy it was not uncommon to interact with Navy Veterans and attempt to help them resolve issues or achieve ideas. One such World War II veteran was quite a colorful individual with a bold initiative that did eventually come to fruition.

By the time U.S. troops were participating in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia comedian Bob Hope was 90 years old and no longer able to travel the world conducting USO shows during the holiday season. Those of us in Mogadishu would be treated to someone else.

When the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is called upon to testify before a Congressional hearing on all matters pertaining to enlisted personnel throughout the Fleet you would think that he could be express his honest views. That turned out not to always be the case when the White House intervened.

After two Libyan aircraft were shot down by U.S. Navy fighter jets a radio disc jockey from Houston was inspired to take his show to the Med and entertain the crew. Little did anyone realize how things would evolve over the subsequent 30 years as the disc jockey soon gained fame that took him far from his rock music roots.

One of my shipmates was in for an unwelcomed surprise when he attempted to call home upon arrival in Pearl Harbor. A quick flight back to San Diego revealed a shock he was not quite ready to receive.

American troops assigned to the United Nations for operations in Somalia in 1993 were eligible for a short getaway to Kenya. My turn for the free trip was on Thanksgiving Day and I was so anxious to get out of Mogadishu that taking an extraordinary risk to make the flight was worthwhile.

Who could pass up a free trip to Malta? And as an unexpected bonus a lucky night at the casino made the trip even that much better.

October 3rd and 4th, 1993 are largely forgotten days in American history. However for those of us who were in Mogadishu, Somalia on those dates the events that unfolded will never be forgotten.

Military facilities often welcome visits from celebrities and politicians. In most cases they are anxious to meet service members, but that is not always the case.

It is not often a softball game is stopped while police officers stroll out to left field and arrest a player. It did happen on one summer morning in Oslo, Norway.

A Navy ship visit of a foreign port offers a great opportunity to interact with other cultures. Sometimes those interactions have unintended consequences.

U.S. Forces deployed to Haiti as part of Operation Uphold Democracy were thrilled to have radio and television in late 1994 until one of the TV transmitters burned up. Worse yet, that was just the start of the problems.

There are many dangers aboard a U.S. Navy warship. One of those at the top of the list is losing a shipmate overboard. Crews train extensively to be prepared should any such situation arise. For USS Boxer (LHD 4) the training was put to the test in the Indian Ocean.

One civilian working for the Naval Reserve Force Command Public Affairs Office was dedicated to her work. She insisted on personally delivering the freshly published Naval Reservist News to senior leadership even when uneven floors took a toll.

One popular way in which U.S. Navy ships keep morale high during long periods at sea is by conducting a swim call. On one such swim call aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4) the ship's senior enlisted leader was concerned about a specific hazard.

Sometimes Mother Nature calls at the most difficult of times. In my case one such instance in the middle of the night led me out into a precarious situation right in the middle of the University Compound in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Food offered to U.S. troops serving as part of the United Nations forces in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993 was not the best. The mess cooks did their best with what they had to work with, but on at least one night the recipe was a bit off.

Secretary of Defense William Perry enjoyed visiting service members of all branches while he served as the leader of the Department of Defense. On one visit to the USS George Washington carrier battle group Secretary Perry was particularly welcomed and invited by Sailors to return more often.

Slow pitch softball was a major event for those stationed at Allied Forces Northern Europe in Oslo in the early 1990's. The games pulled together diverse individuals from a variety of countries leading to some fun times and unexpected outcomes.

Burials at sea are a time-honored tradition carried out with full military honors, but sometimes there are unexpected consequences.

When USS Valley Forge (CG 50) embarked on the ship's first Western Pacific deployment many members of the crew were excited about the exotic ports o'call ahead. The first stop was Subic Bay, Philippines. One crew member guaranteed a good time through his connections at one particular bar.

Sicilians and American service members gathered to celebrate the Fourth of July at Naval Air Station Sigonella. One of the contests that drew attention was naming the person with the best tan, but the activity had an unwelcomed conclusion.

The first night in Hawaii was met with an unexpected surprise. Instead of the smell of fresh pineapples the crew of USS Valley Forge (CG 50) was subjected to a smell many will never forget.

It was quite a shock to wake up one morning in the middle of boot camp and find one of our shipmates missing. How did he slip out of the back door in the middle of the night?

Operation Restore Democracy in Haiti in 1994 offered another opportunity for Navy Broadcasting to establish radio and television service for deployed troops. That service came with a few challenges including a difficult Army Colonel.

Time magazine reporters were in for an unexpected turn of events when they stopped by the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service studios on the University compound in Mogadishu, Somalia in November 1993.

The first year of life for the newly commissioned USS Valley Forge (CG 50) was documented in a cruisebook. The layout and design featured a surprise two-page spread that caught almost everyone off guard.

One of the first casualties of Operation Desert Storm was actually thousands of miles away. Stress of the building conflict proved to be a bit too much to take for one allied leader.

It might have been the wrong place. It might have been the wrong time. But it worked out safely one night in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

This is a taste of what you will hear in this series of Podcasts.

The story of a young Navy Sailor who learned the hard way about communicating with friends and family back home while deployed for six months at sea.