Bahrain Trip
During the summer of 1996, Michael was deployed to Bahrain for a joint readiness exercise. This was Michael's first time to travel overseas. 
On the way to Bahrain, Michael stopped in Sicily for an overnight stay. In Bahrain, Michael and his unit setup communications for a Navy Seal team. They were testing communications from land, sea and air. Michael was able to go to the city, Manama, several times during the month he was in Bahrain. During the drive in the desert, Mike often saw a herd of camels on the side of the road. Michael also flew to Oman. On the flight back from Oman, the Navy flight crew let Michael take control of the plane, a P3 Orion, for a short period of time. Flying is a lot harder than Michael expected. The pilot had to put Mike back on course several times. Bahrain is a small island near Saudi Arabia. Unlike most Arabic countries, drinking is legal in Bahrain. Bahrain is sort of like Las Vegas for that region. Many people in the area travel there for vacation. Mike did try to swim in the Persian Gulf. There were bullet casings on the ocean floor. Here is a photograph of Michael standing in his barracks room shortly after arriving.
Click on the picture to the right to view the entire album of photographs.