Navy Identifies Sailor Killed Aboard USS George H.W. Bush

September 19, 2018 2:08 PM - Updated: September 19, 2018 3:14 PM
Airman Apprentice Joseph Min Naglak. US Navy Photo

The Navy identified a sailor who was killed aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on Monday on the carrier’s flight deck.

Airman Apprentice Joseph Min Naglak was working on the flight deck of Bush struck by the propeller of an E-2C Hawkeye after he secured the plane to the deck. The carrier was conducting flight operations qualifications at the time.

He had served aboard Bush since completing training in Pensacola, Fla. after enlisting in the Navy in April 2017 in his hometown of West Windsor, N.J., read a Wednesday statement from Naval Air Force Atlantic.

“The loss of a shipmate is a heartbreaking experience for a crew of a Naval vessel and those aboard USS George H.W. Bush will mourn Naglak’s passing and remember him always for his devoted service and sacrifice to our Nation,” read the AIRLANT statement.

The cause of the incident is under investigation and Bush has resumed flight operations, the statement said.

Naglak is the 14th Navy or Marine Corps service member who has died in 2018 in a work-related mishap or in combat, according to internal USNI News records.

Bush completed a seven-month deployment to the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Atlantic last year, and has spent this year conducting various training activities at sea in the Atlantic, including a deployment with a French naval aviation squadron.

E-2C Hawkeyes, assigned to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 124, launch and recover on the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) on Sept. 13, 2018. US Navy photo.

The following is the complete Sept. 19, 2018 statement from Airlant.

USS George H.W. Bush mourns the loss of Airman Apprentice (ABHAA)

Joseph Min Naglak

NORFOLK – On Monday, Sept. 17, Airman Apprentice Joseph Min Naglak lost his life aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) when he was struck by the turning propeller of an E-2C Hawkeye after securing the aircraft to the flight deck.

Naglak, who enlisted in the Navy in his hometown of West Windsor, New Jersey in April 2017, was an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Apprentice. He reported to the ship four months later upon completion of his training in Pensacola, Florida.

The loss of a shipmate is a heartbreaking experience for a crew of a Naval vessel and those aboard USS George H.W. Bush will mourn Naglak’s passing and remember him always for his devoted service and sacrifice to our Nation.

The cause of the mishap remains under investigation. USS George H.W. Bush has resumed flight operations and remains underway at sea to complete naval pilot aircraft carrier qualifications.

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone is the editor of USNI News. He has covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services since 2009 and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy.
Follow @samlagrone

Get USNI News updates delivered to your inbox