The United States Navy has suspended its search efforts for a missing sailor from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), it announced on 24 April 2025.
According to a U.S. Navy statement, the sailor — who has not yet been publicly named pending next-of-kin notification — was reported unaccounted for on Saturday morning while Nimitz was conducting a scheduled port call at Naval Base Guam.
After five days of intensive efforts, the active search was officially called off at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday.
The search operation was extensive, covering more than 11,000 square nautical miles over a 120-hour period. Responding units included crews from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft from Commander Task Force 72, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Oliver Henry, response boats from Station Apra Harbor, and coastal and offshore rescue teams from Guam Fire Rescue.
The U.S. Navy said the missing sailor is currently listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN), a classification used when a service member’s whereabouts cannot be confirmed.
USS Nimitz (CVN 68) is the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of the largest warships in the world. Commissioned in 1975, she displaces over 100,000 tons fully loaded and is home to approximately 5,000 personnel when operating with her embarked Carrier Air Wing. The ship carries up to 90 aircraft, including a mix of fighter jets, electronic warfare aircraft, early warning platforms, and helicopters, and remains a key asset for U.S. power projection globally.
The carrier is powered by two nuclear reactors, giving her virtually unlimited range and an endurance limited primarily by crew and supply needs. After nearly five decades of service, Nimitz remains a vital part of the U.S. Navy’s global operations, with deployments regularly supporting American interests in the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and beyond.
RIP.
Despite my disgust for Trump the US military is a force for good in the world.