The US Navy has released the identities of the seven sailors killed on Saturday when the USS Fitzgerald and a Philippine cargo ship, the ACX Crystal, collided in the middle of the night.
The seven sailors were found in flooded compartments of the ship.
The Navy had previously withheld the names until all next of kin were notified.
Initially there was some confusion about how many sailors died, with a Navy spokeswoman saying not all seven had died; but other officials telling media companies that all seven had indeed died.
Three Navy sailors were injured and medically evacuated from the ship, and seven sailors were killed.
One of the injured sailors was the commanding officer, Cmdr. Bryce Benson, who was MEDEVAC’d out.
A retired Navy Captain who wished to remain unnamed told American Military News that “In the middle of the night. large cargo ships can look like land on the horizon. Most likely someone on watch screwed up and someone will be relieved of duty.”
The deceased are:
– Gunner’s Mate Seaman Dakota Kyle Rigsby, 19, from Palmyra, Virginia
– Yeoman 3rd Class Shingo Alexander Douglass, 25, from San Diego, California
– Sonar Technician 3rd Class Ngoc T Truong Huynh, 25, from Oakville, Connecticut
– Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Noe Hernandez, 26, from Weslaco, Texas
– Fire Controlman 2nd Class Carlosvictor Ganzon Sibayan, 23, from Chula Vista, California
– Personnel Specialist 1st Class Xavier Alec Martin, 24, from Halethorpe, Maryland
– Fire Controlman 1st Class Gary Leo Rehm Jr., 37, from Elyria, Ohio
Updates will be provided.
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