I was ashore in Beirut, Lebanon photographing a Red Cross location
where military doctors and dentists from our Navy ships were providing
free health care for local citizens.

I just happened to spot a very pretty lebanese girl and proceeded to try
to take her photograph. She saw my intentions and proceeded to turn and hide.
Well, I tried again. We would smile at each other and and for a couple of minutes
we sort of played hide and seek.

All of a sudden an older man came up to me, and I thought boy I'm in trouble now.
He thinks I'm hitting on this young lady and I wonder if he is upset with me.

As it turns out, he was her grandfather, but he was not mad at me. He was actually
inviting me to come visit he and his family in town at their apartment. I talked to
my supervisors and got permission, and rode with them through terribly bombed streets
to their apartment. (This would obviously never happen today!)

They were so nice to me and showed me around their building and part of downtown and served
snacks. I remember seeing a Christmas tree in their apartment.

The beautiful young girl actually took this photograph.

People are the same all over the world...