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.