TWO SAILORS KILLED IN NAVY DESTROYER COLLISION WERE FROM SAN DIEGO

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By Miriam Raftery

June 19, 2017 (San Diego) – The Department of Defense has released the names of seven sailors who were reported missing but have since been confirmed dead after the Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with a merchant vessel from the Philippines on Sunday, June 18th at 2:30 a.m.

Two of the sailors were from San Diego County: 25-year-old Petty Officer 3rd Class Shingo Alexander Douglass of San Diego, and 23-year old Petty Officer 2nd Class Carlos Victor Ganzon Sibayan from Chula Vista.

Their remains were found in flooded berthing compartments after divers gained access to the damaged spaces, according to a press release issued by the Department of Defense.

The collision occurred about 64 miles off the coast of Yokosuka Japan, according to the U.S. 7th Fleet. The Japanese Coast Guard aided in the search and rescue efforts. 

The damaged destroyer was able to return to its home port at Yokosuka, aided by tugboats, after the collision. Cause of the deadly collision remains under investigation.

Other sailors were injured and three required medical evacuation from the damaged Fitzgerald, including Bryce Benson, the Fitzgerald's commanding officer, who is reportedly in stable condition. Benson and the two other injured sailors were transferred to U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka.

Navy Rear Admiral Charles Williams stated in a press release, “I want to highlight the extraordinary courage of the Fitzgerald sailors who contained the flooding, stabilized the ship and sailed her back to Yokosuka despite the exceptionally trying circumstances.”


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