On April 1, HWW Gold Crew members, alongside their Marine Corps and Coast Guard tri-maritime service companions, boarded a Brazilian-flagged vessel and made what would become the second largest non-containerized trans-Atlantic drug bust in historical past.
The drug interdiction was clearly an enormous deal. Not solely did the Chief of Naval Operations Tweet out a BZ to the HWW Gold crew, information shops all over the world reported concerning the exploits that included apprehending seven traffickers and seizing a staggering 13,228 kilos of cocaine price an estimated $350 million road worth.
Important because it was, the ballyhooed bust was hardly the one measure behind the Hershel “Woody” Williams’ Gold Crew incomes the particular operations ribbon.
The award, offered on August 22 by Lunday, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Space, at United States Coast Guard Base Portsmouth, acknowledged HWW’s general distinctive help of a number of tri-maritime service operations from February to April 2022. Along with the counter-narcotics, further efforts included maritime safety operations (MSO) in addition to the crew’s company energies put forth to fight unlawful, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing off the west coast of Africa.
The ship additionally participated in Obangame Specific 22. Happening on West African seas, this yr’s iteration was a six-day, 32-nation train – the biggest ever multinational maritime train – designed to enhance regional cooperation by specializing in maritime area consciousness, information-sharing, and tactical interdiction throughout all participant militaries.
Upon completion of the train, HWW Gold carried out MSO patrols off the coast of West Africa with African associate nations and interdicted a foreign-flagged vessel engaged in IUU fishing. In consequence, $6 million in fines have been issued.
Gold Crew commanding officer, Capt. Michael Concannon, expressed pleasure for his crew as he stated the excellence shouldn’t be typically awarded to maritime items.
“The crew and I recognize the Coast Guard’s recognition for the profitable tri-maritime operations carried out off the coast of Africa,” Concannon stated. “The successes from Obangame Specific and the MSO patrols go a protracted option to present African companions that the U.S. is dedicated to regional stability help.”
Established on July 1, 1987, the US Coast Guard Medals and Awards Handbook says the SOS Ribbon is awarded to U.S. armed forces members who participated in a significant Coast Guard operation of a particular nature not involving fight.
To be eligible, SOS Ribbon nominees have to be connected to a taking part unit and should be current at least 21 non-consecutive days throughout the interval the unit is engaged within the particular operation. If the operation is lower than 21 days, personnel should serve your complete length. Moreover, the tactical commander throughout the applicable space commander’s space of accountability should particularly advocate SOS Ribbon candidates.
Expeditionary sea base ships are crucial in supporting the deployment of forces and provides to supply prepositioned tools and sustainment with versatile distribution
As a part of Expeditionary Strike Group 2, USS Hershel “Woody” Williams is the second Lewis B. Puller-class ESB and is presently ahead deployed to Souda Bay, Greece. The primary U.S. Navy ship assigned to the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) space of operations, HWW is a extremely versatile platform that consists of each U.S. Navy Sailors and Navy Sealift Command civilian mariners and could also be used throughout a broad vary of navy operations supporting a number of operational phases.
For extra details about Expeditionary Strike Group Two or USS Hershel “Woody” Williams please go to: https://www.c2f.usff.navy.mil/Group/Expeditionary-Strike-Group-ESG-2/
