The U.S. Navy has recognized a Florida sailor who went lacking final week and died whereas deployed within the Red Sea.
The sailor was recognized as Oriola Michael Aregbesola, 34, navy officers mentioned Saturday. Aregbesola was an aviation machinist’s mate 2nd class and was stationed on the USS Mason within the Red Sea.
“Petty Officer Aregbesola absolutely embodied the selfless character and considerate warrior spirit of the United States Navy Sailor,” Cmdr. Eric Kohut, HSM-74 commanding officer, mentioned in an announcement. “His excellent efficiency previous to and through deployment went properly past plane upkeep; he really noticed and valued each member of the ship/air crew.”
Aregbesola was supporting operations within the Red Sea when he went overboard on March 20, based on the U.S. Central Command. Further particulars concerning the incident weren’t instantly offered however officers mentioned search and restoration operations had been carried out.
Aregbesola died because of a non-combat-related incident, the Department of Defense mentioned in an announcement. The incident is below investigation.
The dying of Aregbesola is the latest involving U.S. service members deployed in areas in or close to the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas battle. In January, two Navy SEALs had gone lacking within the Arabian Sea throughout a nighttime boarding mission to grab an unflagged boat carrying illicit Iranian-made weapons to Yemen.
Who was Oriola Michael Aregbesola?
Aregbesola was from Miramar, Florida, and was stationed on the USS Mason deployed to the U.S. fifth Fleet space of operations, as a part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, based on the Department of Defense.
He was assigned to the “Swamp Foxes” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74, the Navy mentioned in an announcement. The USS Mason had been working within the U.S. fifth Fleet space since November.
Aregbesola joined the Navy in July 2020 and reported to HSM-74 in December 2020, based on the Navy.
“He will continue on in the heart of every Swamp Fox and our brothers and sisters in the IKE Carrier Strike Group,” Kohut said. “Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
‘Exceptional warriors’: Navy identifies SEALs declared useless after mission to confiscate Iranian-made weapons
Navy beforehand recognized SEALs declared useless in Red Sea
The two Navy SEALs had been declared useless a couple of week after navy officers mentioned they went overboard off the coast of Somalia. They had been recognized as Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers, 37, and Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram, 27.
Chambers and Ingram each served with a U.S. West Coast-based SEAL crew. The two SEALs had been on an interdiction mission on Jan. 11 when certainly one of them fell off a ship after excessive waves hit the vessel, prompting the opposite SEAL to go after him to aim a rescue, based on officers.
Search and rescue operations involving ships and plane from the United States, Japan, and Spain lasted for 10 days earlier than the Central Command modified it to a restoration operation.
Contributing: Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY
