Marine Declared Dead After 3-Day Search in Caribbean

Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah fell overboard from the USS Iwo Jima during a deployment to the region.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A 21-year-old U.S. Marine has been declared dead after going overboard from the USS Iwo Jima during a deployment to the Caribbean. Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah was the subject of a nonstop, three-day search involving multiple Navy ships and aircraft before being declared lost at sea.

Why it matters

The USS Iwo Jima was recently involved in the capture of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, highlighting the heightened military activity in the Caribbean region. Oforah's death is a tragic loss for the Marine Corps and his family.

The details

Oforah, an infantry rifleman from Florida, enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 2023 and was deployed on the USS Iwo Jima, a 840-foot-long assault ship, when he went overboard on February 7. The extensive search included five U.S. Navy ships, a rigid-hull inflatable boat, and ten aircraft from the Marines, Navy, and Air Force, as well as satellites, but Oforah could not be located.

  • Oforah went overboard from the USS Iwo Jima on February 7, 2026.
  • The search for Oforah lasted for three days, ending on February 10, 2026 when he was declared dead.

The players

Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah

A 21-year-old U.S. Marine from Florida who enlisted in October 2023 and was deployed on the USS Iwo Jima when he went overboard and was declared dead after a three-day search.

Col. Tom Trimble

The commanding officer of the special ops 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), who expressed grief over Oforah's death.

USS Iwo Jima

An 840-foot-long U.S. Navy assault ship that was recently involved in the capture of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and where Oforah was deployed when he went overboard.

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What they’re saying

“We are all grieving alongside the Oforah family. The loss of Lance Cpl. Oforah is deeply felt across the entire Navy-Marine Corps team. He will be profoundly missed, and his dedicated service will not be forgotten.”

— Col. Tom Trimble, Commanding Officer, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit

What’s next

The incident remains under investigation by military officials.

The takeaway

This tragic loss highlights the risks and sacrifices made by U.S. service members, even during routine deployments. Oforah's death will be deeply felt by his family, the Marine Corps, and the broader military community.