Sailor Identified After Going Overboard from USS Mason in Red Sea

The U.S. Navy has identified the sailor who went overboard from the USS Mason while deployed in the Red Sea. The sailor, Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Oriola Michael Aregbesola, was a member of the "Swamp Foxes" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 74 and a 34-year-old resident of Florida who joined the Navy in July 2020.

Commanding Officer's Tribute

Cmdr. Eric Kohut, HSM-74 commanding officer, praised Aregbesola for embodying the selfless character and thoughtful warrior spirit of the United States Navy Sailor. He highlighted Aregbesola's outstanding performance and his value for every member of the ship/air team.

Non-Combat-Related Incident

Aregbesola's death was a result of a non-combat-related incident, according to the Department of Defense. An investigation into the incident is currently ongoing.

Deployment Information

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, revealed on "60 Minutes" that approximately 7,000 American sailors were deployed in the Red Sea region. President Biden had deployed the U.S. Navy to the Red Sea following attacks on commercial ships by Houthi rebels, who had seized control of Yemen's capital Sanaa in 2014, in solidarity with Hamas.