THE two Navy Seals who vanished at sea during a raid on a ship have been identified.
Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram, 37, and Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers, 27, were last seen entering the waters off Somalia.
Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram slipped off a ship during a raidDepartment of Defense via AP
Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers jumped in to save Ingram but both men were weighed down by their heavy equipmentDepartment of Defense via AP
The two were involved in a raid of a sailboat to seize Iranian arms headed for YemenU.S. Central Command via AP
The two were involved in the raid on a ship that was taking Iranian weapons to Houthis in Yemen.
An 11-day search and rescue mission was held to find the men, however, it has now turned into a recovery effort.
Ingram slipped and fell while climbing a ladder onto the ship, said the Navy in a statement.
Chambers jumped in to save him, said Pentagon officials.
However, the men were weighed down by their body armor and heavy equipment, dragging them deep into the Arabian Sea.
“Chris and Gage selflessly served their country with unwavering professionalism and exceptional capabilities,” said Captain Blake Chaney, commander of Naval Special Warfare Group 1.
“This loss is devastating for NSW, our families, the special operations community, and across the nation.”
Chambers, who was from Maryland, enlisted in 2012 and served with West Coast-based Seal units, according to the Naval Special Warfare Command.
“His awards and decorations include the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat ‘C,’ three Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and other personal and unit awards,” read a statement.
Ingram, a resident of Texas, enlisted in 2019, serving with West Coast-based Seal units and earning several personal and unit awards.
President Joe Biden also released a statement, saying: “Jill and I are mourning the tragic deaths of two of America’s finest — Navy SEALs who were lost at sea while executing a mission off the coast of East Africa last week.”
Biden added that the Seals represent “the very best of our country, pledging their lives to protect their fellow Americans. Our hearts go out to the family members, loved ones, friends, and shipmates who are grieving for these two brave Americans.”
An investigation into the incidents is underway and is set to examine if the Seals were equipped for the mission, if procedures were followed, and decisions in the timing and approval of the raid, including the weather and state of the seas.
The raid was the latest seizure by the US Navy of weapon shipments headed to Yemen rebels, who launched several attacks threatening global trade in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
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