U.S. Navy Reports Second Man-Overboard in Two Weeks
USS Lake Erie under way off Hawaii during RIMPAC 2018, July 26 (USN) By MarEx
August 20, 2018
The U.S. Navy reported Monday that it is once again engaged in a search and rescue effort for a missing sailor in the Pacific theater, less than two weeks after a marine went missing from the amphib USS Essex in the Sulu Sea.
At about 0700 hours local time Sunday, a sailor aboard the cruiser USS Lake Erie failed to report for duty. The crew conducted several extensive searches of the vessel but could not locate the individual, and the ship initiated man-overboard procedures.
The Lake Erie was under way in the Eastern Pacific at the time of the incident as part of the USS John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group. Vessels and aircraft from the CSG are conducting a SAR operation with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard.
The family of the missing sailor has been notified but the Navy has not yet released the individual's identity to the public.
Missing marine identified
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| Helicopter crew chief Cpl. Jonathan Currier went missing from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex in the Sulu Sea. |
On Sunday, the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit identified the marine who went missing from the USS Essex on August 9.
The victim, helicopter crew chief Cpl. Jonathan Currier, was deployed with the 13th MEU's Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 aboard the Essex. When he went missing, the Navy launched a search in the Sulu Sea and Surigao Strait. Phillipine and Singaporean authorities supported the effort. The search lasted five days and covered more than 13,000 square nautical miles, with more than 110 sorties and 300 flight hours. It was called off on August 13, and Cpl. Currier was declared deceased on August 17.
Cpl. Currier was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
“Our hearts go out to the Currier family,” said Col. Chandler Nelms, commanding officer of the 13th MEU. “Cpl. Currier’s loss is felt by our entire [crew], and he will not be forgotten.”
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The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) maneuvers into position to conduct a fueling-at-sea with Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) during an amphibious squadron and Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) integration (PMINT) exercise. US Navy Photo
A Marine who was reported missing from USS Essex (LHD-2) while operating in the Sulu Sea, has been identified as Cpl. Jonathan Currier and declared deceased, according to a statement from U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Currier, a New Hampshire native, was first reported missing on Aug. 9. He was declared deceased by the Marine Corps on Aug. 17, after an extensive search of the Sulu Sea, Mindanao Strait and the Surigao Strait, according to a Pacific Fleet statement.
Currier was a Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion crew chief. At the time he was reported missing, Currier was deployed with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 Reinforced, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) aboard Essex. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 2015.
“Our hearts go out to the Currier family,” Col. Chandler Nelms, commanding officer of 13th MEU, said in a statement. “Cpl. Currier’s loss is felt by our entire ARG/MEU family, and he will not be forgotten.”
The Essex ARG and 13th MEU departed San Diego, Calif. on July 10. The ARG includes amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD-23) and dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47).
For five days, units from the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, the 13th MEU and the Philippines Coast Guard conducted a search for Currier covering an area of 13,000 square miles, launching more than 110 aerial sorties and 300 flight hours, according to Pacific Fleet.
An investigation of the incident is ongoing.
The following is the complete Aug. 19, 2018 statement.
SULU SEA – The Marine at the center of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) search in the Mindanao Sea since Aug. 9 has been identified as Cpl. Jonathan Currier.
On Aug. 17, Currier who was previously listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) was declared deceased.
Currier, a New Hampshire native and a Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion crew chief, enlisted in the Marine Corps on August 2015 and graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, in November of that year. He completed School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Aviation and A&C School in Pensacola, Fla.; and Center for Naval Aviation Training in Jacksonville, N.C.
Currier was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, and was deployed at the time of his disappearance with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 Reinforced, 13th MEU, aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2).
Currier’s awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
“Our hearts go out to the Currier family,” said Col. Chandler Nelms, commanding officer, 13th MEU. “Cpl. Currier’s loss is felt by our entire ARG/MEU family, and he will not be forgotten.”
The extensive search effort concluded, August 13. The search lasted five days and covered more than 13,000 square nautical miles with more than 110 sorties and 300 flight hours.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently being investigated.
An official photo of Cpl. Currier is not available.