US Marine Chukwuemeka Oforah Dies After Falling Overboard from USS Iwo Jima During Operation Southern Spear

A United States Marine of Nigerian descent, Chukwuemeka Oforah, has died after falling overboard from the USS Iwo Jima during operations in the Caribbean Sea.

The 21-year-old Lance Corporal reportedly fell from the amphibious assault ship on February 7, 2026, while it was engaged in routine maritime security operations. A large-scale search involving five ships and 10 aircraft was launched immediately but ended on February 10. He was subsequently pronounced dead. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation by the US military.

Oforah, a Florida native, was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. He was deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit under the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group.

He enlisted in October 2023 and graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in February 2024.

Oforah’s death marks the first publicly acknowledged American fatality linked to Operation Southern Spear, a counter-narcotics mission launched under President Donald Trump. The operation targets drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean and has reportedly carried out 38 lethal strikes since September 2025.

In a statement, Marine officials expressed condolences to his family, describing his loss as deeply felt across the Navy-Marine Corps team and affirming that his service would not be forgotten.