Military

San Diego-Based USS Spruance Crew Rescues Man Overboard

By Beth Ford Roth / Home Post Blogger

Published January 20, 2014 at 9:55 AM PST

This story was published more than 10 years ago.

Lt. j.g. Katherine Miyamasu of USS Spruance provides water to a rescued Filipino mariner, Jan. 18, 2014.

San Diego-based USS Spruance crew members rescued a Filipino mariner who'd fallen overboard in the Singapore Strait on Jan. 18.

According to a news release from Commander, Task Force 70 Public Affairs, a Malaysian-flagged boat, the Pantagruel, sent out a distress call to the Spruance when one of its crew fell overboard.

Spruance sailors immediately launched the ship's rigid-hull-inflatable boat. The sailors on board the boat located the stranded mariner, pulled him on board, and tended to his medical needs.

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The Spruance sailors then delivered the man to the Singapore Police Coast Guard.

Lt. j.g. Katherine Miyamasu, Spruance's boat officer, said of the rescue:

"The boat crew did an excellent job reacting to a stressful situation.

"[Boatswain's Mate First Class] Jesus Hernandez spotted the man from the (rigid-hull-inflatable boat) and everyone else sprang into action. It was a great day to be in the Navy."

The USS Spruance departed Naval Base San Diego for its deployment to the 7th Fleet area of operations on Oct. 16, 2013.