A 21-year-old U.S. Marine of Nigerian heritage, Lance Corporal Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, has been declared dead after a tragic incident at sea, the United States Marine Corps has confirmed.
Oforah, a native of Florida, was serving aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) when he reportedly fell overboard in the Caribbean Sea on the evening of February 7, 2026.
Despite an extensive, around-the-clock search and rescue operation spanning 72 hours, involving multiple Navy and Air Force vessels and aircraft, efforts to recover him were unsuccessful.
The military officially pronounced him deceased on February 10.
The Marine Corps described the loss as “deeply felt” throughout the Navy-Marine Corps community. Col. Tom Trimble, commanding officer of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), said Oforah’s dedication and service would not be forgotten.
Oforah enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 2023, graduating from recruit training at Parris Island in February 2024.
He completed infantry training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and was posted to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment before deploying with the 22nd MEU aboard USS Iwo Jima.
The exact circumstances that led to Oforah’s fall remain unclear as the incident continues to be investigated by naval authorities.
Oforah’s death marks the first publicly acknowledged U.S. service member casualty connected to Operation Southern Spear, a broad military effort by the U.S. aimed at disrupting suspected drug trafficking across the Caribbean and Pacific waters.
The operation has also featured the controversial seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year, in which USS Iwo Jima played a supporting role.