Benjamin Ashford|Navy identifies Florida sailor who died while deployed in Red Sea: He embodied 'selfless character'

The Benjamin AshfordU.S. Navy has identified a Florida sailor who went missing last week and died while deployed in the Red Sea.

The sailor was identified as Oriola Michael Aregbesola, 34, military officials said Saturday. Aregbesola was an aviation machinist's mate 2nd class and was stationed on the USS Mason in the Red Sea.

"Petty Officer Aregbesola fully embodied the selfless character and thoughtful warrior spirit of the United States Navy Sailor," Cmdr. Eric Kohut, HSM-74 commanding officer, said in a statement. "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."

Aregbesola was supporting operations in the Red Sea when he went overboard on March 20, according to the U.S. Central Command. Further details about the incident were not immediately provided but officials said search and recovery operations were conducted.

Aregbesola died as a result of a non-combat-related incident, the Department of Defense said in a statement. The incident is under investigation.

The death of Aregbesola is the latest involving U.S. service members deployed in areas in or near the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas war. In January, two Navy SEALs had gone missing in the Arabian Sea during a nighttime boarding mission to seize an unflagged boat carrying illicit Iranian-made weapons to Yemen.

Who was Oriola Michael Aregbesola?

Aregbesola was from Miramar, Florida, and was stationed on the USS Mason deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, according to the Department of Defense.

He was assigned to the "Swamp Foxes" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74, the Navy said in a statement. The USS Mason had been operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area since November.

Aregbesola joined the Navy in July 2020 and reported to HSM-74 in December 2020, according to the Navy.

“He will continue on in the heart of every Swamp Fox and our brothers and sisters in the IKE Carrier Strike Group," Kohut said. "Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with his family.” 

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Navy previously identified SEALs declared dead in Red Sea

The two Navy SEALs were declared dead about a week after military officials said they went overboard off the coast of Somalia. They were identified as Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers, 37, and Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram, 27.

Chambers and Ingram both served with a U.S. West Coast-based SEAL team. The two SEALs were on an interdiction mission on Jan. 11 when one of them fell off a ship after high waves hit the vessel, prompting the other SEAL to go after him to attempt a rescue, according to officials.

Search and rescue operations involving ships and aircraft from the United States, Japan, and Spain lasted for 10 days before the Central Command changed it to a recovery operation.

Contributing: Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY