US Navy Sailor, Aregbesola, Drowns In The Red Sea

Sailor Aregbesola of the US Navy goes overboard in the Red Sea

Regretfully, Oriola Michael Aregbesola, a Mate 2nd Class Aviation Machinist, has gone away. Aregbesola rose to prominence in 2020 when he renounced his Nigerian citizenship in order to participate in the U.S. Navy. He claimed that the Navy recognized his skill, which prompted his recruitment as a sailor.

Aregbesola was reported lost overboard from the USS Mason (DDG 87) while the ship was patrolling in the Red Sea on March 20, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Navy on Saturday.

The statement read, “Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Oriola Michael Aregbesola, assigned to the ‘Swamp Foxes’ of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74, was deployed with a detachment aboard Mason, which has been operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet since November.

“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 hearts of every Swamp Fox and our brothers and sisters in the IKE Carrier Strike Group. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with his family.

“Mason and HSM-74 are part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group and currently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.”

Eric Kohut, the commanding officer of HSM-74, responded to the incident by stating that Aregbesola enlisted in the Navy in July 2020 and reported to HSM-74 in December of the same year.