DoD Identifies Navy Casualty (# 1927... lost at sea)

[leftchick]

DoD Identifies Navy Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.



Seaman Apprentice Robert D. Macrum, 22, of Sugarland, Texas, was lost at sea. He was last seen the evening of Sept. 12 while the ship was underway. Macrum was assigned to the USS Princeton, currently deployed to the Arabian Gulf conducting maritime security operations as part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.


http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20050928-4814.html

The US went from 1923 dead to 1927 Dead in just a few hours!

:(

[soothsayer]

1. How do they know he's dead if they can't find him?

hope the poor bastard just went awol.

[leftchick]

2. I hope so too

:(

[NYC]

6. Last seen WHILE the ship was underway.

Unless he was close to shore or had a boat, it sounds as though he didn't go AWOL.

I wonder how long it took them to notice he was missing. Not much information at the link.

[Charlie Brown]

3. What in the world?

Did he just fall overboard? Don't the Navy have protocol to prevent this kind of thing from happening?

[acmejack]

5. Yes they do have a procedure.

However it is very difficult to locate a little person in a vast sea. You're a lucky person if 1) someone sees you go over (there is an after lookout who hopefully sees you, 2) if they find you.

[pfitz59]

8. Guy fell off a ship few years back....

was found a week later by Pakistani fishermen! Squids fall off ships all the time. Most are quickly recovered. Comes with the job.

[MADem]

7. If someone SEES you go over

You mark the spot, do a fast turn, and come back around. But even the fast turn takes forever. If the vessel has a helo, they launch that, or a small craft, but if no one sees you fall, then that's pretty much that. Life jackets are not part of the kit if you are just farting around topside...

It ain't pleasure cruising....

[semillama]

4. Seeing as where he's from

perhaps there's a connection to Delay?

:tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat:

[Charlie Brown]

9. I don't know if it's proper to include this with the war casualties

Most of the "accidents" that are reported appear to be a result of faulty equipment and bad procedures, so I can see why they are a result of the war. This incdient, however, just seems like a random mishap that could have happend anytime, anywhere. I guess you could argue his ship would not have been in the Gulf if not for the war, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't have happened elsewhere.

[UpInArms]

10. I am so sorry :(

the deaths seem to be escalating at an unbelievable rate.

:cry:

Period	US	UK	Other*	Total	Avg	Days	
4 	490	10	16	516	2.14	241	
3 	579	26	27	632	2.93	216	
2 	718	27	58	803	1.89	424	
1 	140	33	0	173	4.02	43	
Total	1927	96	101	2124	2.3	924