The Navy has recognized the pair of Navy SEAL operators who fell into the water and went lacking Jan. 11 amid efforts to board an unflagged ship carrying Iranian-made weapons to Houthi rebels off the coast of Somalia.
The 2 sailors had been Navy Particular Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher Chambers, 37, and Navy Particular Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram, 27.
The Navy known as off the seek for the pair of sailors Sunday after a 10-day effort that, in response to Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh, concerned an “expansive search operation” utilizing “airborne and naval platforms from the U.S., Japan and Spain [to] constantly search greater than 21,000 sq. miles.”
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On the night of Jan. 11, Chambers and Ingram had been a part of a bunch of SEALs who had been working from the expeditionary cell base USS Lewis B. Puller “supported by helicopters and unmanned aerial autos,” in response to an announcement from U.S. Central Command launched Jan. 16.
The Related Press, citing protection officers, reported that, because the staff was boarding the ship, one of many SEALs went below within the heavy seas, and a teammate went in to attempt to save him.
The assertion figuring out Chambers and Ingram didn’t specify which sailor went into the water first.
Finally, the seizure of the boat led to the invention of Iranian-made missile parts together with “propulsion, steerage and warheads for Houthi medium-range ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles, in addition to air defense-associated parts,” the assertion from Central Command stated.
“Preliminary evaluation signifies these identical weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and assault harmless mariners on worldwide service provider ships transiting within the Purple Sea,” in response to the assertion.
Data supplied by the Navy present Chambers enlisted on Might 17, 2012, and served with West Coast-based SEAL models since graduating from SEAL qualification coaching in Coronado, California, in 2014.
His awards and decorations embody the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Fight “C,” three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, an Army Achievement Medal, and a Fight Motion Ribbon, amongst different awards.
Ingram enlisted within the Navy on Sept. 25, 2019, and joined a West Coast-based SEAL unit in 2021. His awards embody World Battle on Terror service medals and a Good Conduct medal.
“Chris and Gage selflessly served their nation with unwavering professionalism and distinctive capabilities,” Capt. Blake Chaney, the commander of Naval Particular Warfare Group 1, stated within the Navy’s assertion Monday.
“This loss is devastating for [Navy Special Warfare], our households, the particular operations group, and throughout the nation,” he stated.
Singh stated that the Navy is just not making any adjustments or pausing operations on account of the incident however she did say that “there is definitely going to be an investigation into what precisely occurred.”
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