Navy Destroyer Seizes 2,521 AK-47 Rifles in Gulf of Aden

GULF OF ADEN (Aug. 30, 2018) Sailors stack a cache of more than 1,000 AK-47 automatic rifles aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109). The ship's visit, board, search and seizure team seized the weapons from a skiff during a flag verification boarding as part of maritime security operations. Dunham is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.

The weapons were found aboard a stateless skiff in international waters in the Gulf of Aden.

The full count follows an initial estimate of more than 1,000 rifles. The skiff was determined to be stateless following a flag-verification boarding conducted in accordance with international law. The origin and intended destination of the skiff have not yet been determined.

Searching for Illegal Weapons

“As a part of our countertrafficking mission, we are actively involved in searching for illegal weapons shipments of all kinds,” said Navy Vice Adm. Scott Stearney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet, and the Combined Maritime Forces.

“Ensuring the free flow of commerce for legitimate traffic and countering malign actors at sea continue to be paramount to the U.S. Navy and its regional partners and allies,” Stearney added.

The seizure comes after four weapons seizures in 2015 and 2016 accomplished by Combined Maritime Forces and U.S. 5th Fleet assets.

The first seizure was by the Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Melbourne, Sept. 27, 2015, when it intercepted a dhow containing 75 anti-tank guided munitions, four tripods with associated equipment, four launch tubes, two launcher assembly units and three missile guidance sets.

The second seizure was by the Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Darwin, which intercepted a dhow Feb. 27, 2016, and confiscated nearly 2,000 AK-47 rifles, 81 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 49 PKM general purpose machine guns, 39 spare PKM barrels and 20 60 mm mortar tubes.

The third seizure was by the French navy destroyer FS Provence March 20, 2016, and yielded again almost 2,000 AK-47 rifles, 64 Dragunov sniper rifles, nine anti-tank missiles and six PK machine guns with bipods.

The fourth seizure was by U.S. Navy coastal patrol ship USS Sirocco, which was operating as part of U.S. 5th Fleet, March 28, 2016, when it intercepted a dhow containing 1,500 AK-47s, 200 RPG launchers and 21 .50-caliber machine guns.

The United Kingdom-based investigative organization Conflict Armament Research studied and linked three of the caches to weapons that plausibly derive from Iranian stockpiles.

Based on an analysis of all available information, including crew interviews, a review of onboard records and an examination of the arms aboard the vessel, the United States concluded that the arms from the four interdictions in 2015 and 2016 originated in Iran and were intended to be delivered to the Houthis in Yemen in contravention of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216.

The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses nearly 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The region is comprised of 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab-al-Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.

Face of Defense: Army NCOs Reconnect During Mideast Deployment

By Army Staff Sgt. Leticia Samuels, 449th Theater Aviation Brigade

CAMP TAJI MILITARY COMPLEX, Iraq -- Soldiers assigned to the 449th Combat Aviation Brigade traveled more than 6,300 miles in order to support Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield from November 2017 to August 2018.

And, for Army Sgt. 1st Class Giovanni Ford, the 449th CAB Headquarters and Headquarters Company’s supply sergeant and Staff Sgt. Robert Morneau, a crew chief assigned to the 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), this deployment held a great surprise.

Ford said he ran into quite a few National Guard colleagues from various states.

But the real treat, he said, was reconnecting with Morneau, a childhood friend.

‘The Army is a Small World’

“The Army is a small world,” Ford said. “Running into Staff Sergeant Morneau was the icing on the cake. I haven't seen him in 30 years.”

Both noncommissioned officers are from Smyrna, Delaware, and met while participating in various community-based events.

“We grew up in a very small town where everybody knew each other,” Ford said. “There were church events, social events, the 4-H club, Boy Scouts, Little League baseball, Pop Warner [Youth] football, and tons of school events."

Ford graduated one year prior to his comrade and decided to join the military.

“The Navy had more opportunity,” Ford said. “At the time, the Army was only offering certain military occupational specialties choices, and I wasn't interested in any they were offering.”

Ford said he completed nine years in the Navy. After a long break in service, a family friend convinced him to join the Army National Guard.

“One of my parents’ neighbors was a North Carolina Guard recruiter,” Ford said. “The rest is history.”

Different Career Paths

Even though they took different career paths, military forces led them back to each other’s circle. The 449th CAB was selected for active service and the unit completed its mobilization training at Forts Hood and Sill.

Morneau said he was attending aerial gunnery training at Fort Sill and was working through a supply issue, which led him straight to Ford’s area of operations.

“When I asked for his first name and the soldier said, ‘Giovanni’ -- a light bulb went off,” Morneau said.

He said after some due diligence using Facebook, he confirmed it was indeed his childhood companion.

“It was pretty surreal,” Morneau said. “I mean, I joined the Army at 18 and Gio joined the Navy. We both had long breaks in service before ending up back in the Army Guard, and in different states.”

Catching Up

Since reconnecting and catching up on old times, these two 30-plus-year friends continue to speak highly of each other.

“What I remember most about SFC Ford is his being the life of the party,” Morneau said. “Everyone knew Gio. It seems from what I’ve observed, that much has not changed, which is a good trait in his career field.”

Morneau “was always a witty person and had a strong opinion,” Ford said. “He always stuck to his word.”

They also emphasized the importance of their family support systems.

“This deployment and my previous deployment wouldn't have been possible without a strong family support system in place,” Ford said.

“This is also my wife Sue’s fourth deployment,” Morneau said. “By that, I mean we’ve been together through Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait, twice now. She’s the one that’s dealt with all the things back home that don’t stop just because I’m deployed. She deserves the credit for me being able to do what I do.”

Now that the two comrades have reconnected, Morneau looks to hearing about his comrade’s journey.

“All in all, I guess I was really looking forward to hearing how after all these years he ended up in this trip with me,” Morneau said.

Gold Star Mother Continues Fallen Son's Legacy

By Alexandra Shea, Evans Army Community Hospital

FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Terry Chapman isn’t a soldier, but she does serve as a GI Granny. Her uniform, a black polo shirt with an embroidered patch, reads: “GI Grannies and Gramps, Soldier Support.”

Her rank: founding member.

“I moved here from Cincinnati so I could be closer to my kids and grandchildren,” Chapman said. “I’ll keep volunteering as long as the group and I still exist.”

Founded in 2012, the GI Grannies and Gramps volunteer their services at Fort Carson’s Warrior Transition Battalion by providing birthday cakes, creating hand-sewn items, hosting dinners, giving encouragement and handing out lots of hugs. The volunteer group consists of 16 local community members, veterans, and blue and gold star family members.

Blue star members have a spouse or child serving on active duty, while gold star members have lost a spouse or child in combat. Chapman lost her son during the Battle of Robert’s Ridge in Afghanistan.

Courageous Son

Her son, Air Force Tech Sgt. John A. Chapman, served as a combat controller with the 24th Special Tactics Squadron when he was attached to SEAL Team 6 during Operation Anaconda in March 2002. The mission was to establish an observation post on the side of Takur Ghar Mountain.

Tech Sgt. Chapman and his team contended with thigh-deep snow as they engaged enemy combatants to rescue a fellow team member that was blown from their helicopter while taking heavy machine-gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire.

The intense firefight would last more than an hour and claim the lives of seven team members, including Tech Sgt. Chapman’s.

More than 15 years later, Tech Sgt. Chapman posthumously received the Medal of Honor.

“Even though he was mortally wounded, John continued to fight on. He really fought,” President Donald J. Trump said at the award presentation ceremony. “Through his extraordinary sacrifice, John helped save over 20 American service members.”

Tech Sgt. Chapman’s widow, Valerie, and their two children attended the ceremony and accepted the medal Aug. 22 in Washington, on what would have been their 26th wedding anniversary.

“It was surreal,” Terry said. “It was like I was in a dream. I really don’t have words to describe it. They went above and beyond to honor Johnny.”

Presidential Praise

During the ceremony, Trump spoke about the events of the battle and the bravery demonstrated by the team. He also spoke about Tech Sgt. Chapman’s generosity and willingness to help others throughout his life, recounting a story of him standing up to a school bully for a friend.

“He wasn’t an angel,” Chapman said of her fallen son. “He did get into mischief -- good mischief. But he always had such a good heart. I’ve been blessed with four very compassionate kids.”

She recounted a story from her son’s youth about how he and his brother parked a neighbor child’s bicycle in a tree as a joke. Upon discovering the bike, the neighbor girl was upset. Terry recalled how her son marched to her door after finding out how upset she had become and confessed to hiding the bike. To make amends, he returned the bike and apologized to the girl, saving their friendship.

“He made the best of every situation, even when things were horrible,” Chapman said.

The whirlwind trip to Washington meant long days and short nights for the Chapman family. After returning home to Colorado, Chapman took the weekend to rest. The following Monday, she was back to her duties at the Warrior Transition Battalion. Surrounded by her fellow volunteers, she was serving birthday cakes and cards to soldiers with an August birthday.

“This is our way to honor our sons, as well as to honor the men and women who serve our country,” she said.