USO trip 2011

Posted by Nigel Barker on September 25, 2011 |

What a week! Last Sunday I set off to Turkey on my second tour with the USO. Last year you may remember i visited Hickam Air force base in Hawaii. This year we decided to make an extended trip to both Turkey and Italy. A total of 10 seminars on the subjects of photography, humanitarian work, America’s Next Top Model and the Beauty Equation to audiences varying from Combat photographers, high school and middle school students to 8-11 year olds and photography clubs on the Adana, Vicenza and Aviano bases…. Switching the subject matter u became crucial for my own psyche as each talk would last over an hour and a half with crowds from 30-300.

My father was a Marine and I have always supported our troops. Traveling to their homes and speaking at their children’s schools is one the things I will always treasure and it’s an honor to be asked back.

Everywhere we went we stayed at the on base in military hotels and really got a great look at life on base. One of my favorite moments was having coffee with Wing Commander Craige and his wife at Adana Air Force Base in Turkey. He gave me one of their special coins with the base’s insignia and crest etc. The deal is you have to present it at a bar if challenged by a soldier to produce the coin. Anyone who doesn’t have their coin has to buy a round of drinks….