The United States Navy has shared with PREMIUM TIMES fresh insights about the service of its recently deceased officer, Oriola Michael Aregbesola, who renounced his Nigerian citizenship after his enlistment in 2020….CONTINUE READING
The United States Department of Defence had announced Mr Aregbesola’s death two days after he slipped from a ship in the Red Sea.
Aged 34, the deceased died on 20 March “as a result of a non-combat related incident.”
His death, according to the department, is being investigated.
Before his death, the deceased was one of the sailors supporting operations in the Red Sea, the department revealed in a statement three days after his death.
“Aregbesola was assigned to USS Mason deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group,” the department stated.
“Petty Officer Aregbesola fully embodied the selfless character and thoughtful warrior spirit of the United States Navy Sailor,” said Eric Kohut, a commodore and HSM-74 commanding officer. “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. 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.”
Since the Israel-Palenstine war started last year, attacks on commercial and military ships have increased in the Red Sea where Mr Aregbesola was serving before his death.
The attacks, according to news reports, were being orchestrated by the Houthi rebels from Yemen.
Also known as Ansar Allah (supporters of God), the armed group claimed to be mainly targeting ships belonging to Israel and the U.S. , but their indiscriminate attacks have taken a toll on global food supply, according to analysts.
PREMIUM TIMES mailed the U.S. Navy a week after Mr Aregbesola’s death was announced, enquiring further details about him.
But the force responded just with very brief details, reiterating the incident was being investigated.
“The incident is currently under investigation and as a matter of policy, the Navy does not discuss ongoing investigations,” Andrew Bertucci of Navy Office of Information wrote in response to our mail, yesterday.
Mr Bertucci stated that “the only information we can share about the Sailor is the attached releasable bio and our press release (released earlier on 23 March).”
According to the bio obtained from the U.S. Navy, Mr Aregbesola, based in Florida, joined the force on 22 July 2020 with his duty post described as ‘Student, Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL.’
Two months after, on 22 September 2020, he was dispatched to ‘Student, Naval Aviation Technical Training, Pensacola, FL’ from where he was moved to ‘Student, Naval Aviation Technical Training, Jacksonville, FL’ and lastly to ‘Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74, Jacksonville, FL’ on 26 December 2020.
The deceased, before his death, bagged two awards namely: Navy Unit Commendation and Navy “E” Ribbon.
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