Marine Declared Dead After Three-Day Search Off USS Iwo Jima

A U.S. Marine has been officially declared dead following a tragic incident in which he fell overboard from the USS Iwo Jima while operating in the Caribbean Sea. The announcement marks the somber conclusion of an exhaustive search and rescue operation that spanned three days but ultimately failed to locate the missing service member.

Rescue teams worked nonstop for 72 hours, utilizing a massive array of naval and aerial assets to scour thousands of square miles of open ocean. The multi-branch effort included five U.S. Navy ships, ten aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, and advanced surveillance drones, yet the operation was suspended without success.

The deceased service member has been identified as 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, an infantry rifleman from Florida assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines. He was deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit at the time of the incident, serving as part of a major regional mobilization known as Operation Southern Spear.

The USS Iwo Jima is currently serving as a centerpiece of this large-scale buildup of U.S. forces in the Caribbean, which officials have described as the most significant military presence in the region in a generation. This surge aims to conduct broad security operations, including counternarcotics strikes and regional stabilization efforts, involving thousands of sailors and Marines.

Operational challenges in the theater were further highlighted by a separate and unrelated maritime accident involving two other Navy vessels operating nearby. The guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun collided with the combat support ship USNS Supply during a routine replenishment-at-sea maneuver, adding to the week's naval mishaps.

Naval officials reported that the collision resulted in minor injuries to two sailors, though both ships remain seaworthy and have continued their respective missions. The incident occurred while the vessels were sailing alongside each other to transfer fuel and cargo, a complex and hazardous procedure that requires precise navigation and coordination.

Col. Tom Trimble, commanding officer of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Lance Cpl. Oforah in a statement released to the press. He emphasized that the loss is felt profoundly across the entire Navy-Marine Corps team and offered his sincere condolences to the grieving family during this difficult time.

Investigations into both the man-overboard incident and the ship collision are currently underway to determine the exact causes and prevent future occurrences. The Navy has stated that safety remains a top priority as operations in the Caribbean theater continue under a heightened operational tempo.