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.