A Jacksonville Marine has been declared dead after reportedly falling overboard the USS Iwo Jima in the Caribbean on Feb. 7.
The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit announced on Feb. 12 the death of Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah. The circumstances are still under investigation. Most recent property records show that Oforah was listed as living in Jacksonville.
According to the miltiary, after Oforah went overboard, an “extensive, around-the-clock 72-hour search and rescue operation” was started.
Officials said the search was a multi-branch effort that covered a wide search area and involved a range of assets, including five U.S. Navy ships, a rigid-hull inflatable boat and 10 aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force.
The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima operates during a combined composite training unit exercise in this 2018 file photo to certify the crew for deployment. The ship left Naval Station Maypor along with the USS New York and the USS Oak Hill for a six-month deployment.
Aircrafts involved in the search included six helicopters (two U.S. Navy MH-60 Sierras, two MH-60 Romeos, one U.S. Marine Corps AH-IZ Viper and one UH-1Y Venom), one U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon, two U.S. Air Force HC-130J Combat Kings IIs and one U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper.
Oforah was reportedly an infantry rifleman. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 2023 and graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, in February 2024. He completed the School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.
At the time of his death, officials said he was deployed with Battalion Landing Team 3/6, 22nd MEU (SOC), aboard the USS Iwo Jima.
“We are all grieving alongside the Oforah family,” said Col. Tom Trimble, commanding officer, 22nd MEU (SOC). “The loss of Lance Cpl. Oforah is deeply felt across the entire Navy-Marine Corps team. He will be profoundly missed, and his dedicated service will not be forgotten.”
This story was first reported by TImes-Union news partner First Coast News.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Marine declared dead after fall from USS Iwo Jima