CARIBBEAN SEA : Lance Corporal Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, a 21-year-old infantry rifleman with the U.S. Marine Corps, has been officially declared deceased following a multi-day search in the Caribbean Sea, military officials confirmed Thursday.
Oforah, a native of Florida assigned to Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, was serving aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) when he was reported missing on the evening of February 7 after falling overboard into the Caribbean Sea.
Search and Rescue Effort
Following the report of the man-overboard incident, U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force units launched an around-the-clock search and rescue operation that lasted approximately 72 hours.
Officials said the effort involved a coordinated deployment of multiple assets, including five U.S. Navy vessels, surface rescue swimmers, a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB), and ten aircraft. The aviation elements supporting the search included:
- Two U.S. Navy MH-60 Sierra helicopters and two MH-60 Romeo helicopters;
- One Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter and one UH-1Y Venom utility helicopter;
- A Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft;
- Two U.S. Air Force HC-130J Combat King II aircraft; and
- An MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial system.
Despite these extensive efforts covering a wide area of the Caribbean Sea, rescue teams were unable to locate Oforah. The search was officially suspended on February 10, at which time the Marine Corps declared him deceased.
Official Response and Statement
In a statement released by the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, commanding officer Col. Tom Trimble expressed condolences to Oforah’s family and acknowledged the impact of the loss on the service community.
“The loss of Lance Cpl. Oforah is deeply felt across our Navy-Marine Corps team,” Col. Trimble said. “We are grieving alongside his family, and his service to this nation will not be forgotten.”
Service Record and Deployment
Oforah enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 2023 and completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in February 2024. He went on to complete the School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before being assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines.
At the time of the incident, the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, with the 22nd MEU embarked, was operating in the Caribbean Sea in support of ongoing missions, including efforts designated under Operation Southern Spear.
Investigation Underway
The specific circumstances leading to Lance Cpl. Oforah’s fall overboard remain the subject of an ongoing investigation. The Department of the Navy’s Naval Safety Command and Naval Surface Force Atlantic are conducting inquiries into the incident in coordination with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd MEU.
No further details have been released pending the outcome of those investigations.
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