A Navy sailor who died after going overboard while serving in the Red Sea has been identified by the Pentagon.
Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Oriola Michael Aregbesola, 34, of Miramar, Florida, died March 20 as a result of a ‘non-combat related incident’ and an investigation into his death is ongoing.
The U.S. Navy said Aregbesola was ‘the Sailor lost overboard from USS Mason (DDG 87) while operating in the Red Sea, March 20.’
Aregbesola joined the Navy in July 2020 and reported to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 74, known as ‘Swamp Foxes,’ in December 2020.
‘Petty Officer Aregbesola fully embodied the selfless character and thoughtful warrior spirit of the United States Navy Sailor,’ said Commander Eric Kohut.
‘His outstanding performance prior to and during deployment went well beyond aircraft maintenance; he truly saw and valued every member of the ship/air team.
The Pentagon has confirmed Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Oriola Michael Aregbesola died after falling overboard the USS Mason (pictured) in the Red Sea
‘He will continue on in the heart of every Swamp Fox and our brothers and sisters in the IKE Carrier Strike Group. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with his family,’ said Kohut.
His squadron was deployed to the USS Mason, which has been operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet in the Red Sea since November.
The Pentagon announced in December the U.S. is joining forces in a 10-nation military pact to try and counter terror threats in the Red Sea after a series of drone and missile strikes on commercial vessels.
Member of the pact – which also includes the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain – has said the attacks are in response to the Hamas-Israel war.
The Houthi, which rules much of Yemen, said its attacks are a show of support for the Palestinians and has vowed they will continue until Israel stops its offensive on the Gaza Strip – more than 1,000 miles from the Houthi seat of power in Sanaa.
The USS Mason has been in the Red Sea since November to counter terror threats from the Houthis following a series of drone and missile strikes on commercial vessels
US military Central Command said an anti-ship cruise missile ‘launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen’ hit the Strinda and the destroyer USS Mason (pictured in 2021) was providing assistance
Houthi rebels have been launching a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea – as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel as it wages war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
US Central Command said in February that the destroyer USS Mason downed an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-held areas in Yemen towards the Gulf of Aden. The department said it believed the missile was probably targeting MV Torm Thor.
A Norwegian-flagged tanker was hit by a cruise missile launched by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea in their latest attack on ships to protest against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
U.S. military Central Command said the anti-tank cruise missile, launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, hit the Strinda and the destroyer USS Mason was providing assistance.