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Accidents Occur Successively in U.S. Military Forces in the Caribbean Sea

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Reference News Network, February 14 report According to the Associated Press on February 13, the U.S. military reported on the 12th two significant incidents related to the large-scale troop buildup in the Caribbean: a Marine fell overboard and died, and two naval vessels collided, resulting in minor injuries to two sailors.

The U.S. Marine Corps stated in a press release that 21-year-old Corporal Shukwemeika Ofura fell from the USS Iwo Jima amphibious assault ship on the 7th.

The military deployed five naval vessels, 10 aircraft, and an Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone to conduct a "72-hour continuous extensive search and rescue operation," but announced Ofura's death on the 10th.

According to a report from Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao on February 12, a U.S. warship and a Navy supply ship collided while conducting ship-to-ship refueling operations in the Caribbean, resulting in minor injuries to two personnel.

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Truxtun and the USNS Supply collided on the 11th while performing a resupply mission at sea, causing minor injuries to two individuals.

Colonel Emmanuel Ortiz, a spokesman for U.S. Southern Command, stated that the two injured personnel are in stable condition, and authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.

President Trump ordered a large-scale troop buildup in the Caribbean to support operations against drug trafficking, and the involved vessels are participating in operations in the area.

Classification
Region
Latin America
Analytical Domain
Operational
Primary Category
Casualties & Losses
SALUTE Report
Size
5 naval vessels, 10 aircraft, 1 drone
Activity
search and rescue operations, naval refueling collision
Location
Caribbean Sea
Unit
U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps
Time
February 7-12, 2023
Equipment
amphibious assault shipnaval vesselsaircraftdrone
Summary

A U.S. Marine Corps sergeant fell from the USS Iwo Jima in the Caribbean Sea on February 7 and was later declared dead after a search operation. On February 11, two U.S. Navy vessels collided during a refueling operation, injuring two sailors. These incidents are part of a larger U.S. military deployment in the region to support anti-drug operations.

Key Facts
  • A U.S. Marine Corps sergeant fell from the USS Iwo Jima and was declared dead after a search operation.
  • Two U.S. Navy vessels collided during a refueling operation, resulting in minor injuries to two sailors.
  • The incidents are linked to a large-scale U.S. military presence in the Caribbean for anti-drug operations.
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