Marine Dies After Falling Overboard USS Iwo Jima
Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, 21, was declared deceased on February 10, 2026, after falling overboard from the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) on February 7 during operations in the Caribbean. An extensive, around-the-clock 72-hour search and rescue effort involving multiple U.S. military branches and assets concluded without success. The loss is deeply felt across the Navy-Marine Corps team, and Oforah’s service as an infantry rifleman will not be forgotten. The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation.
John Q. Hosedrinker