US sailor lost overboard in the Red Sea is identified as a 34-year-old Michael Aregbesola who had a ‘selfless character’
- Aviation Machinist Mate 2nd Class Oriola Michael Aregbesola died after falling overboard from the USS Mason in the Red Sea
- The USS Mason has been in the Red Sea since November fighting Houthi attacks on commercial ships
A Navy sailor who died after going overboard while serving in the Red Sea has been identified by the Pentagon.
Aviation Machinist 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 who was lost overboard by the USS Mason (DDG 87) while operating in the Red Sea on 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 before and during deployment went far beyond aircraft maintenance; he truly saw and appreciated every member of the ship/air team.
The Pentagon has confirmed that Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Oriola Michael Aregbesola died after falling overboard from the USS Mason (pictured) in the Red Sea
“He will live on in the hearts of every Swamp Fox and our brothers and sisters in the IKE Carrier Strike Group. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with his family,” Kohut said.
His squadron was deployed to the USS Mason, which has been operating with the U.S. 5th Fleet in the Red Sea since November.
The Pentagon announced in December that the US was joining forces in a 10-nation military pact to combat terror threats in the Red Sea following a series of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships.
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 war between Hamas and Israel.
The Houthi, who rule much of Yemen, said its attacks are a show of support for the Palestinians and have vowed they will continue until Israel halts its offensive on the Gaza Strip – more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) from the Houthi seat of power in Sanaa.
The USS Mason has been in the Red Sea since November to counter terrorist threats from the Houthis after a series of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships
The US Military Central Command said an anti-ship cruise missile “launched from a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen” struck the Strinda and the destroyer USS Mason (pictured in 2021) provided assistance
Houthi rebels have carried out a series of attacks on ships in the Red Sea – and have also launched drones and missiles targeting Israel as it wages war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
U.S. Central Command said in February that the destroyer USS Mason had downed an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-held areas in Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden. The department said it believed the missile likely targeted MV Torm Thor.
A Norwegian-flagged tanker was hit by a cruise missile launched by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea during their latest attack on ships protesting Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
The US Military Central Command said the anti-tank cruise missile, launched from a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen, hit the Strinda and the destroyer USS Mason provided assistance.