美国海军陆战队周四宣布，在加勒比海进行了广泛的搜索后，一名从美国海军硫磺岛号上落水的21岁海军陆战队员被宣布死亡。
21岁的一等兵Chukwuemeka E. Oforah周六被分配到北卡罗来纳州勒尤尼营地的第六海军陆战队第三营时落入水中。
两栖攻击舰硫磺岛号在唐纳德·特朗普总统的南方之矛行动在抓捕委内瑞拉总统尼古拉斯·马杜罗的突袭行动之前，在加勒比海的军事集结。马杜罗和他的妻子被捕后被直升机送往硫磺岛，然后被带到美国。
Oforah的死亡是第一个与特朗普在加勒比海的军事行动“南方之矛行动”(Operation Southern Spear)有关的美国军人死亡。
第22海军陆战队远征队指挥官汤姆·特林布尔上校在一份声明中说:“我们和奥弗拉家庭一样悲痛。”。“整个海军陆战队团队都深切地感受到了兰斯·奥弗拉下士的去世。我们将深深怀念他，不会忘记他的奉献精神。”
目前还不清楚事故原因，事故正在调查中。据海军陆战队称，为期三天的大规模搜救行动涉及众多大型船只、飞机、无人机和人员，包括海军MH-60 Sierras、两架MH-60 Romeo、一架海军陆战队AH-1Z Viper和一架UH-1Y Venom;一架海军P-8海神;两架美国空军HC-130J战斗王ii，一架美国空军MQ-9收割者。
奥弗拉于2023年10月加入海军陆战队，2024年2月从南卡罗来纳州帕里斯岛的新兵训练营毕业。
ABC新闻的路易斯·马丁内斯对此报道有贡献。
Marine's death after going overboard becomes first in US military operation in Caribbean
A 21-year-old Marine who went overboard from USS Iwo Jima was declared dead following an extensive search inthe Caribbean Sea,the Marine Corps announced Thursday.
Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, 21, fell into the water on Saturday while assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
The Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship, played a central role in President Donald Trump'sOperation Southern Spearmilitary buildup in the Caribbean ahead of the raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro and his wife were flown by helicopter to the Iwo Jima after their capture before being taken to the United States.
Oforah's death is the first U.S. military death associated with Operation Southern Spear, Trump's military operation in the Caribbean.
"We are all grieving alongside the Oforah family," Col. Tom Trimble, commander of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, said in a statement. "The loss of Lance Cpl. Oforah is deeply felt across the entire Navy-Marine Corps team. He will be profoundly missed, and his dedicated service will not be forgotten."
It's unclear what caused the incident, which is under investigation.Thethree-day-long sprawling search and rescue operation involved numerous large ships, aircraft, drones and personnel, according to the Marine Corps, including Navy MH-60 Sierras, two MH-60 Romeos, one Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper, and one UH-1Y Venom; one Navy P-8 Poseidon; two U.S. Air Force HC-130J Combat King IIs, and one U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper.
Oforah joined the Marine Corps in October 2023 and graduated from boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in February 2024.
