Marine declared dead after falling overboard in Caribbean

Washington — A young Marine died aft falling overboard from the USS Iwo Jima successful the Caribbean Sea, the Marine Corps announced Thursday, the archetypal known U.S. decease successful "Operation Southern Spear." 

Marine Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah was 21.

Oforah, an infantry rifleman from Florida, was declared dormant connected Feb. 10 aft a 72-hour hunt and rescue ngo failed to find him, the Marine Corps said. He was reported arsenic falling overboard connected the evening of Feb. 7. The Marine Corps said the circumstances surrounded the incidental are nether investigation. 

"We are each grieving alongside the Oforah family," said Col. Tom Trimble. "The nonaccomplishment of Lance Cpl. Oforah is profoundly felt crossed the full Navy-Marine Corps team. He volition beryllium profoundly missed, and his dedicated work volition not beryllium forgotten."

The subject says the multi-branch hunt included 5 U.S. Navy ships, a rigid-hull inflatable boat, and 10 craft from the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. 

Operation Southern Spear, begun past year, is the Trump administration's subject and surveillance run with the stated intent of detecting and disrupting transnational transgression maritime networks, peculiarly related to cause trafficking. The cognition has led to scores of deaths and the sinking of astatine slightest 39 alleged drug-carrying vessels successful the Caribbean and Pacific Seas.