U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Leander Pickens arms an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile on a F/A-18C Hornet as the aircraft is readied for launch from the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) as the ship steams in the Persian Gulf on Feb. 20, 1998. The Washington battle group is operating in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch which is the U.S. and coalition enforcement of the no-fly-zone over Southern Iraq. Pickens is from Greenville, Ala. The Hornet is from Strike Fighter Squadron 86, Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Fla.