Latest news with #TimorSea
The Independent
6 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Family of teenage US Navy sailor pay tribute after he was declared lost at sea
The family of a teenage sailor in the U.S. Navy have paid tribute after he was declared lost at sea. Jose Antonio Rivera Lynch IV was serving on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and is believed to have gone overboard after he went missing on July 28. Officials scaled roughly 2,200 square miles in the Timor Sea off the coast of Australia for nearly two days in a desperate search for the 19 year-old. The search for the mariner involved a cooperative effort with helicopters, a destroyer, numerous aircraft, and patrol boats – all deployed by the U.S. Navy as well as Australian Defence and Border Force officials. His body has not been found. Rivera Lynch, who served as Aviation Boatswain's Mate, was responsible for launch and recovery equipment, enlisted in the Navy in June last year and reported to the George Washington in January. His grieving family have launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for his funeral service. 'Jose was more than a sailor – he was a loving son, a cherished brother, and a loyal friend whose laughter and light touched everyone around him,' his family wrote. 'His sudden loss has left our family heartbroken and navigating the unimaginable grief of losing someone so young and full of promise.' Just 12 hours before he was reported missing, Rivera Lynch had spoken to his parents. 'We noticed the tiredness, we noticed that, and then he said, 'I love you guys,' ' the sailor's father Juan Antonio Rivera III told News4Jax. 'I said, 'You're the best of me. You've been to places I've never been, and we are so proud of you.' 'That was the last thing I said to my son.' Rivera Lynch followed the footsteps of his sister, father, and grandfather, who all served in the military. 'At just 19 years old, Jose faithfully served his country with honor, courage, and an unwavering commitment to protecting others,' his family wrote. The U.S. Navy also paid tribute to the young seaman. 'Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of our shipmate, Airman Rivera Lynch,' said Capt. Tim Waits, commanding officer, USS George Washington. 'I am sincerely grateful for the support and coordination from all units who assisted in the search effort, including our partners from the Australian Defence Force and Border Force.' The sailor's family held a memorial earlier this month, and he will be honored during a funeral and memorial service by the U.S. Navy in September in Yokosuka, Japan, reports The Post.
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Navy identifies USS George Washington sailor lost at sea
The U.S. Navy identified the sailor from the USS George Washington who went missing in the Timor Sea earlier this week. On Friday, Aug. 1, the Navy announced that the lost sailor was Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Launch/ Recovery Equipment) Airman Jose Antonio Rivera Lynch IV. According to his family, he was declared dead. He went missing during a training exercise on Monday, July 28 and is believed to have gone overboard. He was 19. The USS George Washington, as part of Carrier Strike Group 5, is currently operating in the Indian Ocean as part of the Talisman Sabre 2025 bilateral exercise with Australia. The Navy, along with the Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force, began searching for Rivera Lynch after he was reported missing on Monday. Search and rescue efforts involved several U.S. Navy assets, including the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Robert Smalls, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup and aircraft from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77, HSM 51 and Carrier Air Wing 5, which is attached to the USS George Washington. Search operations covered 22,000 square miles and ended on Wednesday, June 30 after 45 hours. According to the Navy, Rivera Lynch enlisted in the Navy in June 2024. He began serving on the aircraft carrier in January. and reported to USS George Washington in January. 'Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of our shipmate, Airman Rivera Lynch,' Capt. Tim Waits, the commander of the USS George Washington, said in the Navy's announcement. 'I am sincerely grateful for the support and coordination from all units who assisted in the search effort, including our partners from the Australian Defence Force and Border Force.' Top Stories This Week News The Marine Corps is looking for 'volunteers' to leave the service early The Marine Corps is looking for 'volunteers' to leave the service early By Patty Nieberg News South Korea tours will now be a year longer as Army cuts down on moves South Korea tours will now be a year longer as Army cuts down on moves By Patty Nieberg Tech & Tactics 'Brutality over precision' — What the Army is learning from Russia in Ukraine 'Brutality over precision' — What the Army is learning from Russia in Ukraine By Kyle Gunn In a post on Facebook, his father, Jose Rivera, wrote that the family was notified of the sailor's death on July 30. 'Fair winds and following seas, my son,' Rivera wrote. 'You are loved, you are remembered, and you will never be forgotten.' Rivera told local news outlet 13News Now that his son had been eager to join the military, and that the two spoke a few hours prior to when Rivera Lynch was declared missing, calling it a 'great conversation.' Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
31-07-2025
- General
- Fox News
Navy calls off search for missing sailor assigned to USS George Washington near Australia
The U.S. Navy has called off a search for a sailor assigned to the USS George Washington amid reports that he possibly went overboard while the ship was sailing north of Australia. The sailor was reported overboard on the aircraft carrier on Monday as the ship was transiting the Timor Sea, the Navy said. The search effort involving the George Washington, its carrier strike group, as well as the Australian Defence (sic) Force and Australian Border Force, concluded at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday. "USS George Washington expresses sincere condolences to those impacted by this loss and is actively engaged with the crew to make services available to tend to their needs during this challenging time," Lt. Cmdr. Mark Langford, a spokesperson for the ship, told USNI News. The Navy is withholding the sailor's name until 24 hours after next-of-kin notification, per Navy policy. The George Washington was carrying out its first patrol since returning to Japan in November 2024, USNI News reported. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Navy.
Daily Mail
30-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
US Navy sailor missing at sea for two days, feared dead
A US Navy sailor has fallen overboard during military exercises in the Timor Sea just north of Australia, triggering a massive search. Rescue crews have been operating around the clock in an attempt to locate the man who has been missing since Monday. Australian assets are being contributed to the search and rescue operation led by the US, which has yet to yield any results. The sailor was reported missing from the nuclear-powered USS George Washington aircraft carrier which is still sailing in the Timor Sea, northwest of Darwin. It remains in the area while more than 40,000 military personnel from 19 countries take part in Exercise Talisman Sabre. This biennial event is Australia's largest military training exercise and has been underway since July 17. It was due to wrap up by August 4 but rescue operations have hampered this as emergency teams continue searching for the lost sailor. Australia's Border Force and Defence Force have supplied a boat and an aircraft to assist the US Navy to find the soldier.
Daily Mail
30-07-2025
- Daily Mail
US Navy sailor is feared dead after going overboard TWO days ago in Australia's Timor Sea
A US Navy Sailor is suspected to have died after falling overboard in the Timor Sea. Rescue crews have been operating around the clock in an attempt to locate the man who has been missing since Monday. Australian assets are being contributed to the search and rescue operation led by the US, which has yet to yield any results. The sailor was reported missing from the nuclear-powered USS George Washington aircraft carrier which is still sailing in the Timor Sea, northwest of Darwin. It remains in the area while more than 30,000 military personnel from 19 countries take part in Exercise Talisman Sabre. This biennial event is Australia's largest military training exercise and has been underway since July 17. It was due to wrap up by the end of July but rescue operations have delayed its ending as emergency teams continue searching for the lost sailor. Australia's Border Force and Defence Force have supplied a boat and an aircraft to assist the US Navy to find the soldier.
