The U.S. Navy announced today that it has ended the search for the Sailor from USS Boxer (LHD 4), reported missing July 26.
Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Second Class Matthew Bergman, 21, was reported missing after he did not report for watch and a search of the ship failed to locate him.
Ships and aircraft from the U.S. Navy conducted extensive searches of the area for more than 72 hours, spanning four days, but were unable to locate Bergman.
After a thorough review of search and rescue data collected during this period, Navy officials determined that every reasonable effort had been expended, and expectations for recovery no longer existed. Search operations concluded at 6:22 p.m. local, July 29.
Surface search operations included Boxer, guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68), guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57), and USNS Alan Shepard (T-AKE 3). Fixed and rotary wing aircraft from aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), Boxer and Anzio, as well as HC-130 aircraft from the 81st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, attached to the 449th Air Expeditionary Wing from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, and P-3 maritime patrol aircraft conducted aerial searches.
Bergman was assigned to the Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC), Georgia. He was on temporary duty to Boxer at the time. Bergman’s home of record is Franklin, TN. He enlisted in the Navy in 2008. NIOC Georgia was his first operational command.
The incident is under investigation.
[mappress]
Source: navy, August 2, 2011;