Navy CO fired for turning AK47 into plaque

I obviously don't have much knowledge on what's acceptable and what's not in the military (high school student), I'm very interested in seeing what those with experience/merit have to say about this. An interesting story for sure.
 
After botching the Eddie Gallagher prosecution, they are going to take out their frustration this poor guy.
 
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This has gotten a lot of discussion on the major "SWO" social media site and the CO involved is extremely well though of within the community. Early information appears to say that Mounting a Demilled weapon for display purposes is common in several other branches of the military and lots of us have seen them displayed. However, it is not in accordance with the rules regarding captured enemy weapons. I really can't say more about the specifics here.
For what its worth however, one of my first military collectables was a demilled pistol from WWII - it had a big steel rod welded into the barrel and
there was no way it could ever function again and couldn't even be disassembled. After my father passed away, I inherited a very functional German pistol - Nickel plated and wonderful to shoot. I don't know how my father got it as he did not serve in the European Theater.
Bottom Line: Captured Enemy weapons has become a very significant issue and in this era, need to be turned in and NEVER kept for personal nor organizational purposes.
 
As an outsider who knows almost nothing about the military regulations that govern this kind of thing, I see the CO’s act as rather benign — perhaps a clumsy attempt to raise esprit des corps on his ship. Seems like a relatively minor infraction on which to end someone’s career.

So I’m very curious to hear from those who know better — active duty and retired — exactly what the issue was. The article is less than clear about that. And not just the law/rule at play, but the principle behind it.
 
My people in the fleet rumor mill indicates that there is a lot more to this story than just an AK. It isn't the AK Big Navy is upset about, things indicate issues with command climate, the AK was just a foot note there.
 
OldRetSWO said:
CO involved is extremely well though of within the community
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that's interesting. the rumblings that i've heard are that this isn't the first issue with this CO, and the AK think might be the straw that breaks the camel's back
 
A6E Dad said:
that's interesting. the rumblings that i've heard are that this isn't the first issue with this CO, and the AK think might be the straw that breaks the camel's back
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Not what I'm hearing but experienced folks also are saying that given the timing (fired very close to the end of his tour) they think that there may have been something else as well.

As for it being an offense in the first place, there was a very well publicized incident with captured enemy weapons from the Grenada operation where a three star and his staff were tarred and feathered in the media so there is precedent for this being an issue.
 
Trophy weapons are heavily restricted (sadly, IMO--some cool history can accompany them!)
I would also hope there is more to the story (either separate issues or the CO refusing orders to get rid of said contraband trophy perhaps)
 
“Ahh, but the strawberries that's... that's where I had them. They laughed at me and made jokes but I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt and with... geometric logic... that a duplicate key to the wardroom icebox DID exist, and I'd have produced that key if they hadn't of pulled the Caine out of action. I, I, I know now they were only trying to protect some fellow officers...”
 
I do like me a good Subway sandwich.

However...I didn't lose anything in that part of the world that I need to return to look for so...I think I'll just keep going to the one that's about a mile away.
 
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