Cape Hatteras, N.C. – The Navy and Coast Guard have launched a search and rescue mission after a sailor on board the USS Carter Hall was reported missing Saturday.
The sailor was identified as missing around 4:20 p.m. and the ship immediately began to search.
“The sailor was absent from an appointed place of duty which made the ship conduct a man overboard to conduct a head count. The results of that confirmed that the sailor was not on board. This happened at approximately 4:30 p.m. Saturday and we have been searching ever since. It is part of our standard procedures to pause training when an event such as this occurs. Our thoughts and prayers are with the sailor and family,” says Lt. Mike Hatfield, public affairs officer.
The dock landing ship is conducting routine training operations in support of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group Composite Training Unit Exercise off the coast of Cape Hatteras.
The name of the sailor won’t be released until 24 hours after next-of-kin has been notified.
The USS Carter Hall is home ported at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek – Fort Story in Virginia Beach.
