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The sailor—Airman Jose Antonio Rivera Lynch IV, aged 19—went missing sometime on July 28 or 29, 2025, while aboard the USS George Washington (CVN‑73) in the Timor Sea, north of Australia. He was reported missing during the carrier’s participation in the Talisman Sabre 25 multinational exercise orida, had enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June 2024, and was assigned to the carrier in January 2025
🚤 Search & Rescue Operations
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The USS George Washington, its strike group, and Australian forces (Australian Defence Force, Border Force, Royal Australian Navy patrol boat ADV Cape Otway, and Royal Australian Air Force P‑8A Poseidons) launched an extensive search operation covering about 2,200 square miles over roughly 45 hoursU.S. Navy assets included the USS Shoup (destroyer), USS Robert Smalls (cruiser), helicopter squadrons HSC‑12, HSM‑51, HSM‑78, and aircraft under Carrier Air Wing 5
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Australian assets played a key role via aerial and maritime support during the operation
📌 Outcome & Status
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On July 30–31, after over 45 hours of search effort, U.S. Navy leadership formally suspended active SAR (Search and Rescue) operations. The sailor is now presumed dead
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Formal confirmation came on July 30, at approximately 12:40 p.m. local time, marking the end of the active search effort
🧑✈️ Personal & Organizational Context
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Airman Rivera Lynch served as an aviation boatswain’s mate responsible for launch and recovery equipment operations aboard the carrier
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He was a relative newcomer—joining the Navy less than a year prior and having deployed with the ship in its first patrol since its November 2024 return to Japan
💬 Official Statements & Condolences
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Capt. Tim Waits, commanding officer of the USS George Washington, expressed deepest sympathies to Rivera Lynch’s family, friends, and shipmates, and thanked all involved in the search, both U.S. and Australian units
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Rear Adm. Eric Anduze, Carrier Strike Group 5 commander, echoed those sentiments and commended the professionalism and dedication of those involved in the operation
🧭 Broader Context & Reflection
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Man-overboard scenarios are relatively uncommon but critically time-sensitive. Even with highly trained crews and immediate action protocols, survival chances remain low—especially in open seas
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Similar past incidents, like the 2024 case aboard the USS Mason in the Red Sea, underscore the seriousness of overboard accidents and the challenges in rescue operations
📌 Summary
Airman Jose Antonio Rivera Lynch IV, a 19‑year‑old aviation boatswain’s mate aboard the USS George Washington, was reported missing during multinational exercises near Australia and is now presumed dead after search efforts exhausted. The operation involved extensive coordination between U.S. naval assets and Australian authorities, covering thousands of square miles before being suspended after more than 45 hours of intensive search. Navy commanders expressed heartfelt condolences while praising the professionalism demonstrated by all agencies involved.
My thoughts are with his loved ones and the ship’s crew during this incredibly difficult time.
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