When a pretty female petty officer is arrested by the MP's for impersonating a Salvation Army 'bell-ringing' Santa & pocketing the cash, Harm is assigned as her attorney. However, since she has a history of unauthorized absences, she is ordered to be held in custody. But with the holidays, the brig & pre-trial detention center are unavailable, she is estranged from her father, so she must spend the holiday with Harm or with Mac.

Cmdr. Ted Lindsey (as the SecNav's administrative assistant) notifies Bud's brother Mikey that each year, the SecNav nominates 170 enlisted personnel for admission to the Naval Academy and that Mikey is being considered for one of those nomination spots. Bud & Mikey's father, a retired Master Chief though is not at all thrilled with having another son becoming an officer and insures that everyone knows it.

In 1944, in the midst of World War II, a disastrous explosion rocked the U.S. Navy's Port Chicago near San Francisco, killing more than 350 sailors, most of them African-Americans. Following the blast, a group of 50 sailors refused to return to work until changes were made to assure their safety. They were charged with mutiny and court martialed, but later their convictions were reversed. Now, a surviving sailor wants his record and those of all the other ""mutineers"" cleared. Asked to handle the investigation discreetly, Cmdr. Turner discovers that an injustice was done and goes head-to-head with Lt. Singer in the courtroom. Meanwhile, Harm goes house shopping with Lt. Sims.

A Marine helicopter pilot finds himself under investigation when he intervenes in a civilian law enforcement hostage situation and puts an end to the hostage crisis.

Harm attempts to gain legal guardianship Mattie, but finds his past single ""lifestyle"" may pose a problem in making good on his promise to her.