FTM2 Robert Pendt

My wife and I just returned from a visit to Israel which made me reminiscent about the Joey’s visit to Haifa during the ’79 Med cruise. In between playing in local clubs and duty days, there was an opportunity to take a daylong tour of the Holy Land. We started early in the morning and drove over hill and dale until we were worn out. Everyone had their souvenirs bagged and were ready to make our exit from the bus except for the big SK2 (whose name escapes me) who had his red and white checked Arab headdress on as we approached the gate to the port. This guy was huge, and with his beard and sunglasses he looked like an Arab sheik. When we got to the gate, the Israeli gate guards came on to inspect the bus and damn if they didn’t want to haul SK2 Sheik off the bus and on to the POW camp. It took our guide and the Navy liaison at the gate to vouch for him and rescue him from an Israeli labor camp. All was well until we reached the ship and there was an all E-5 and below working party in progress for stores. How fortunate that a bus full of E-5 and below candidates just happened to pull in. We were immediately pressed into service without even changing out of our civvies. Now THAT is fun!!