Last week, a Navy Sailor, by the name of Oriola Michael Aregbesola went missing while he was away in the Red Sea aboard the USS Mason destroyer. Sadly, it has been reported that he has passed away as he went overboard on March 20th. The USS Mason is the third ship to bear the name, and is the 37th ship of the Arleigh Burke Class. Furthermore, it is a part of the USS Eisenhower carrier strike group. Read more about the USS Mason destroyer and the incident involving Aregbesola.Suggested read: Celebrate Military Children on April 15 for Purple Up! Day

A Simple Mission on the USS Mason Destroyer Gone Very Wrong

Oriola Michael Aregbesola, 34, joined the Navy in 2020. He was reported missing at sea and it was determined that he went overboard. It was reported that he died on March 20th, and that his death was not combat-related. Search and rescue operations were there to help and find his body. As of now, no one has come forward. Without having a witness present, it is very difficult to say why the Sailor went overboard. In fact, it may be very difficult for the Navy to give a definitive answer as to why this tragic incident occurred in the first place.

Who Was Oriola Aregbesola?

Aregbesola was from Miramar, Florida. He joined the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 7 in December 2020. Commander Eric Kohut spoke out and said kind words about Aregbesola, “His outstanding performance prior to and during deployment went well beyond aircraft maintenance. Petty Officer Aregbesola fully embodied the selfless character and thoughtful warrior spirit of the United States Navy Sailor. He saw the good and valued every person on his team." Aregbesola was 34 years old and was an Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class. He was in the "Swamp Foxes" of the Strike Squadron. Additionally, he had joined the Navy in July of 2020 and reported to HSM-74 in December of 2020.

The History Behind the USS Mason Destroyer

The USS Mason destroyer was a ship that was used often through the remainder of World War II. Thus, the first ship is after John Young Mason who was Secretary of the Navy for Presidents John Tyler and James Polk. The second ship is after Ensign Newton Henry Mason who had many great accomplishments. One of them given the Distinguished Flying Cross for skill and courage in the Battle of the Coral Sea. There is a lot of history that circles around the USS Mason destroyer, things such as changes the ship went through, and the different missions/wars it has been involved in. The ship has been a great tool in many scenarios. Related read: The Army Learning Management System Has Officially Been Replaced

What Are the Navy's Rescue Procedures For a Man-Overboard?

When a Sailor goes overboard, like what happened to Sailor Oriola Michael Aregbesola, there are three rescue procedures in place that follow Sailors are instructed to follow. The first rescue operation is the Williamson Turn. This method is not usually used on aircraft carriers, but it can be used for rescue operations if a Sailor falls overboard on a smaller vessel. A rescue using a smaller vessel tends to be a more efficient and effective method of recovery when you are racing against the clock. The second rescue procedure involves the use of a helicopter. Helicopter recovery tend to be more risky. It is only an option when a Sailor goes overboard off the deck of a carrier. As a backup method of recovery, boats are on standby. The last method of recovery are helos. They usually hover low to the water. They are preparing for the instance when those doing the action of rescuing need it themselves. Usually this is the preferred method of recovery to ensure that everyone is safe. However, smaller ships often don't have the capabilities to perform this type of rescue. As of this writing, an investigation is ongoing to determine the reason why Sailor Oriola Michael Aregbesola was lost overboard on the USS Mason destroyer.Read next: The Army Has Finally Fielded the Next Generation Squad Weapon