A U.S. sailor, slated for a critical mine countermeasures mission in the Middle East, sustained an injury during a monkey attack in Thailand, forcing his temporary removal from duty, Navy officials have confirmed.
The incident unfolded in Phuket, where the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Chief was briefly docked for refueling. News of the monkey encounter was first reported by Axios on Thursday.
“The sailor received medical care and was transferred back to Japan for further care,” stated Cmdr. Matthew Comer, a spokesperson for the Navy’s 7th Fleet, in an emailed statement. He added, “There were no operational impacts or delays to Chief.”
Despite the injury being described as a light scratch, Navy protocol mandates a medical transfer following any interaction with a wild animal. The specific species of monkey involved in the attack was not disclosed by the Navy.
This unusual incident follows closely on the heels of another wildlife encounter involving U.S. service members. Just days prior, two U.S. soldiers were wounded by a bear during a land navigation exercise in a remote area of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
The Army reported on Monday that those soldiers received treatment for serious injuries at an Anchorage hospital and have since been discharged. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, currently investigating the bear incident, credited the soldiers’ survival to their use of bear spray.
Meanwhile, the USS Chief remains on schedule to join the vital minesweeping operation in the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which approximately 20% of global energy supplies pass.
The strait has been a flashpoint, with Iran previously imposing a blockade amidst U.S. and Israeli strikes, prompting a counter-blockade from the U.S.
The U.S. is actively working to secure the strait from mines, aiming to prevent further disruptions to shipping by Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned during a Friday press briefing that any new attempts by Iran to deploy mines would constitute a violation of the ongoing ceasefire.
The report was compiled by Nikki Wentling, a senior editor at Military Times, who brings nearly a decade of experience covering veterans and military communities, alongside technology, politics, health care, and crime. Her distinguished work has garnered multiple accolades from organizations including the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans and the Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors.
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