Tragic Loss at Sea: Nigerian-American Marine Declared Dead After Caribbean Fall

​CARIBBEAN SEA – The U.S. Marine Corps has confirmed the death of Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, a 21-year-old Nigerian-American infantry rifleman, following a grueling 72-hour search and rescue operation in the Caribbean Sea.

​Oforah, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, was reported missing on the evening of February 7, 2026, after falling overboard from the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7). At the time, the amphibious assault ship was operating as part of Operation Southern Spear, a multi-national initiative led by the Trump administration to intercept drug-trafficking vessels in the region.

​A Massive Search Effort

​Following the “man overboard” alarm, a massive multi-branch rescue mission was launched, involving five Navy ships and ten aircraft. The search fleet included specialized assets such as:

• ​Aviation: Two Navy MH-60 Sierra helicopters, two MH-60 Romeos, a Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper, a Navy P-8 Poseidon, and an Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone.

• ​Surface: Rigid-hull inflatable boats and surface rescue swimmers from the USS Iwo Jima.

​Despite hundreds of flight hours and around-the-clock efforts, search teams were unable to locate Oforah. The mission was officially suspended on February 10, and he was declared deceased.

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​A Hero Remembered

​Oforah’s death marks the first publicly reported American fatality of Operation Southern Spear. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 2023 and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment (known as “The Teufelhunden”) out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

​“The loss of Lance Cpl. Oforah is deeply felt across the entire Navy-Marine Corps team,” said Col. Tom Trimble, commanding officer of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. “He will be profoundly missed, and his dedicated service will not be forgotten.”

​Separate Naval Incident: Mid-Sea Collision

​In an unrelated event that highlights the inherent dangers of naval operations, the U.S. Navy confirmed a collision between two vessels on Wednesday, February 11. 

​The USS Truxtun, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and the USNS Supply struck each other during a routine “replenishment-at-sea” (RAS) maneuver. The collision occurred while the USNS Supply was simultaneously refueling the cruiser USS Gettysburg.

​While two sailors sustained minor injuries, officials confirmed that both ships remain seaworthy and have continued their missions. Investigations into the causes of both Oforah’s fall and the ship collision are currently underway by the U.S. Southern Command.