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encore
Wild-Goose Chase
On a weekend sightseeing trip with his family, a Navy offi cer
stationed in Puerto Rico takes on an unexpected mission
to fi nd the local USO representative.
I
n 1977, I was the XO at Naval Air
Station Roosevelt Roads in Puerto
Rico, and one of my collateral tasks
was serving as the military representative
on the USO Council of Puerto Rico.
One of my son’s friends was visiting
us during the summer, so we decided to
take a weekend sightseeing trip around
the island. One of our planned stops was
the city of Ponce, the second-largest city
in Puerto Rico, on the south side of the is-
land. I had been there on a port call some
12 years prior and thought the boys would
be interested in some of the attractions the
city had to offer.
Our fi rst stop was the city’s beautiful
art museum, designed by architect Frank
Lloyd Wright. At the museum we en-
joyed a leisurely guided tour that lasted hood. I had no better luck there, but the
about two hours. clerk in the grocery store told me that
Later, while walking around the plaza someone at the hotel undoubtedly would
in Ponce, I noticed some reserved park- know. However, when the hotel clerk told
ing signs marked “USO Offi cial.” There me I surely could fi nd out at the fi re sta-
was only a small naval communications tion, I was frustrated and decided it was
station in Ponce at the time, and I was a lost cause.
not aware that a branch of the USO was When we walked by the parking
located there. Because I had not met spaces again, I began to double over with
anyone from Ponce at any of the monthly laughter. As I saw the signs the second
USO council meetings, I thought it time, my high school Spanish kicked in.
would be nice to meet this person and “USO Ofi cial” (spelled with one F) would
introduce myself. translate to “Offi cial Use” in English. We
First, I asked someone walking by if were walking directly in front of Ponce
they could tell me the location of the USO City Hall. MO
offi ce and was told someone at the fi re sta-
tion probably would know.
— Ward Serig is a retired Navy commander. He
Inquiring at the fi re station, I was di-
lives in Pensacola, Fla. For submission informa-
rected to a grocery store in the neighbor- tion, see page 20.
124 MILITARY OFFICER SEPTEMBER 2009 ILLUSTRATION: ELWOOD SMITH
SSept_encore.indd Sec1:124ept_encore.indd Sec1:124 88/4/09 8:43 PM/4/09 8:43 PM
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