The Navy identified the sailor who went missing from the guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG-67) on Thursday as Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) 3rd Class Peter Mims, according to an early Tuesday release from U.S. 7th Fleet.
Shiloh had been operating about 180 miles east of Okinawa Japan when Mims was presumed to have gone overboard.
“U.S. Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Japan Coast Guard assets spent over 50 hours in a comprehensive search that covered roughly 5,500 square miles,” read the Tuesday statement.
“The team suspended their search efforts on midnight June 11.”
The team that conducted the air and surface search included Shiloh, USS McCampbell (DDG-85), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), USS Barry (DDG-52), USS John S. McCain (DDG-56), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Ship Ashigara (DDG-178), Japanese Coast Guard Ships Kudaka and Ryuku, and locally based P-8A maritime patrol aircraft.
Mims had enlisted in the Navy in February of 2014 and reported to Shiloh in August of that year. The cruiser is part of the U.S. Forward Deployed Naval Forces that are stationed in Japan and operate with the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group.
The loss of Mims is the second man-overboard incident in a matter of days that concluded with the presumed loss of a sailor. Fire Controlman 2nd Class Christopher W. Clavin fall off guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60) on June 6 off of North Carolina and the Navy declared Clavin presumed lost at sea on June 9.
The following is the complete statement from U.S. 7th Fleet.
PHILIPPINE SEA (NNS) – The USS Shiloh (CG 67) Sailor who presumably went overboard on June 8 has been identified as Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) 3rd Class Peter Mims. U.S. Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Japan Coast Guard assets spent over 50 hours in a comprehensive search that covered roughly 5,500 square miles. The team suspended their search efforts on midnight June 11.
Mims, who enlisted in the Navy in February 2014, and reported to Shiloh in August of that year, was reported missing and assumed overboard June 8 at about 9:30 p.m. while the ship was conducting routine operations 180 miles east of Okinawa, Japan.
Among the awards that Mims has earned are the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon and Sea Service Ribbon. His last promotion was August 2015.
An investigation is currently underway.
