I worked with an old Vietnam vet. He told me a story along those lines. He said the guys were sending AKs back or something like that.
From what i understand in the Mideast, troops cannot bring back arms but somehow Saddam's pistol was brought back and presented to ? GWB - believe.
There were “bring backs” from several wars. There was an amnesty period in 1968 that allowed those guns to be registered and transferable under the NFA. Once in a while you’ll see one for sale with “amnesty registered” in the ad.
From The Guardian: Saddam Hussein's gun to go on display at Bush library. The weapon, a 9mm Glock 18C, was discovered by Delta Force special troops when they dug Hussein out of his fox hole outside Tikrit on 13 December 2003. The legendary beast of Baghdad emerged from the 8ft-deep hole bewildered and disorientated; with his shaggy beard and unkempt mop of hair he looked closer to a dishevelled elf than one of the world's great dictators.
