Colonel Skaggs vaulted out of the passenger seat as his Jeep skidded to a halt near the gangway leading to the quarterdeck of the USS Mount Pleasant, the antenna-encrusted amphibious command and control vessel that served as his floating headquarters. Waiting for him on the docks was a clutch of reporters and TV news crews. The Colonel took off his cover and ran a hand through a thatch of white hair. He was shined and starched but he felt like hell. He had a lot to do with this new command before they finally named his replacement, and the Navy was dragging its feet about getting out of Naples. He needed to cut short on liberty and go long on training. That meant he needed to find some beaches that weren’t lined with bars. In the meantime, his Public Affairs Officer was pushing for regular
