USS McCain Victims: Remembering the Missing Sailors

The U.S. Navy has identified one sailor who died in the USS McCain disaster, and has also released the names of the nine sailors who remain missing.

The sailor whose remains were recovered was identified as Electronics Technician 3rd Class Kenneth Aaron Smith, 22, from New Jersey. According to NJ.com, Smith was born in Novi, Michigan and both his father and grandfather served in the U.S. Navy. Smith worked “in radar technology aboard the McCain and writes science fiction in his spare time,” the newspaper reported.

Here’s another photo of Kenneth Smith:

His mother wrote on Facebook on August 21 when he was still missing, “We’re all rooting for you Kenneth. The entire country is rooting for you.” On Facebook, Smith wrote, “I work all day and work slightly less all night. Hooya.”

“After more than 80 hours of multinational search efforts, the U.S. Navy suspended search and rescue efforts for missing USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) Sailors in an approximately 2,100-square mile area east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore,” the Navy reported in a press release.

Ten sailors went missing “following a collision between the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer and the Liberian-flagged merchant vessel Alnic MC August 21,” according to the Navy.

The cause remains under investigation and divers are continuing search efforts inside flooded compartments within the ship. The disaster came just two months after a similar incident between a merchant ship and USS Fitzgerald led to multiple sailors’ deaths. The Navy has since relieved Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, the three-star commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet, of his command, citing a loss of confidence.

Here are the names and photos of all of the sailors still missing from the USS McCain:

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Charles Nathan Findley

Electronics Technician 1st Class Charles Nathan Findley, 31, was from Missouri.

Here’s another photo of Charles Findley:

A friend wrote on Facebook, “Two of the best sailors I’ve had the privilege to serve with Cory Ingram and Charles Findley are among the missing on the Mccain. Please keep their families and the families of all the missing in your thoughts.”

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Abraham Lopez

Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class Abraham Lopez, 39, was from Texas.

Another photo of Lopez is on left below:

A woman who knew Lopez wrote on Facebook, “I am so sad.. I was stationed with IC1 Lopez on my last ship before I got out on the USS BOXER.. I can’t say anything bad about him.. He was always smiling and joking.. He was always helpful in anyway he could.”

Another friend wrote, “I remember i first met him in okinawa. I went to his room to wake him up we were flying out to the ship his hair was in a spikey mohawk look like he came off of leave. Great guy always happy and willing to help. Rest easy brother.”

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Kevin Sayer Bushell

Electronics Technician 2nd Class Kevin Sayer Bushell, 26, was from Maryland.

Here’s another photo of Bushell:

Wrote one man on Facebook, “This hits me hard. I went to A school with this hero. Rest in peace, man…” A woman wrote, “? The husband of our daughter’s friend has not been found. Please keep Kevin Bushell, his wife and family and co-workers in Yokosuka, Japan in your prayers. Life is rough on the 7th Fleet right now.”

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Jacob Daniel Drake

Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jacob Daniel Drake, 21, was from Ohio.

Here’s another photo of Drake:

10TV reported, “Jacob Drake attended Triad High School in North Lewisburg, Ohio – about 45 miles from Columbus.”

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Timothy Thomas Eckels Jr.

Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Timothy Thomas Eckels Jr., 23, was from Maryland.

One man wrote of Eckels on Facebook, “I didn’t know you Tim Eckels. I only knew of you because you were supposed to be a prospective gain at my command until they changed your orders to Japan to the USS McCain and I spoke with you a couple of times. I hope and pray they find you and everyone else who is missing and bring you back home to your families. God Bless Shipmates.”

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Corey George Ingram

Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Corey George Ingram, 28, was from New York.

A friend wrote on Facebook of Ingram, “We were shipmates on board the USS Nassau. I still remember the convos we had on the smoke deck and going out together in Spain and Bahrain.”

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Dustin Louis Doyon

Electronics Technician 3rd Class Dustin Louis Doyon, 26, was from Connecticut.

Here’s another photo of Doyon:

Doyon wrote on Facebook, “Live the dream of dreamers. Where no word is worthy of a thought, no picture as vivid as a memory.”

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John Henry Hoagland III

Electronics Technician 3rd Class John Henry Hoagland III, 20, was from Texas.

Here’s another photo of John Hoagland:

According to Fox26, “Even as a boy John Hoagland felt the pull of the sea.” The television station quoted Hoagland’s uncle, Larry Reed, who said, “He made his decision. That’s what he wanted to do and he loved the Navy. He really did.”

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Logan Stephen Palmer

Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Logan Stephen Palmer, 23, was from Illinois.

Here’s another photo of Palmer:

According to IllinoisHomePage, “Palmer graduated from Sangamon Valley High School.His brother Austin says he always had big dreams of serving his county. Palmer’s first love was with the Air Force, but after an injury to his eye his next choice and new found love was on the waters seeing the world.”