Free Republic

A child awaits the return of his grandfather aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy, Sept. 25, 2005, as the ship returns to Naval Station Norfolk following a six-month deployment in support of the Global War on Terror. USS Normandy is an element of the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group, along with the guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman, which also returned to Norfolk Sept. 25. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Christopher Okula  More photos USS Kauffman, USS Normandy Return From Deployment While deployed, the strike group ships conducted maritime security operations for the U.S. 5th Fleet and theater security cooperation for the...

NORTH ARABIAN SEA –A coalition effort involving ships from Commander Task Force (CTF) 150, under the Coalition Forces Maritime Component Command, led to the seizure of more than 4,200 pounds of hashish here in international waters May 20. Guided missile frigate USS Kauffman (FFG 59) had been tracking the motor vessel Al Naveed before boarding the vessel. The boarding team discovered the drugs hidden behind a false bulkhead. Kauffman is deployed in the region to conduct maritime security operations (MSO). MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security...