This story originally published on blackanthem.com. Read an excerpt below:

“As service members travel to and from their destinations for rest and relaxation from deployment, groups like the United Services Organization help to make their travel experience a little easier.

For Sgt. 1st Class Carl Manns, of South Bend, Ind., and a provost marshal office noncommissioned officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan., being stuck at the Fort Worth-Dallas International Airport wasn’t such a bad thing.

After realizing that he was going to be at the airport longer than expected to to some baggage delays, Sgt. 1st Class Manns said that he went to the airport’s USO where he and seven other Soldiers were given free tickets to attend an NBA basketball game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns, Dec. 8.