The Navy has identified a sailor assigned to an amphibious warship based in Norfolk, Va., who died on Friday from complications related to COVID-19.
Aviation Support Equipment Technician 1st Class Marcglenn L. Orcullo, age 42 of Hawai, assigned to USS Wasp (LHD-1), was hospitalized on Jan. 17 at Sentara Princess Anne hospital in Virginia Beach, Va., and then transferred to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital on Jan. 29, according to ESG 2.
“We offer our condolences and join the sailor’s family, friends and shipmates in mourning the loss of this sailor. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time,” read a Friday statement.
Orcullo enlisted in the Navy in 2010 and previously had served aboard USS Bataan(LHD-5) and at the Fleet Air Western Pacific, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, Misawa, Japan, according to his official biography. He joined the crew of Wasp in 2018.
He is the fourth active-duty sailor who has died of COVID-19 complications. On Feb. 2, Navy boot camp instructor Chief Quartermaster Herbert Rojas, 50, died in quarantine at home after contracting the virus. On Feb. 4, Information Systems Technician (Submarines) Second Class Petty Officer Cody Andrew-Godfredson Myers, 26, assigned to the Blue crew of USS Tennessee (SSBN-734) died in a Florida hospital.
In April, Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker Jr., 41, died in a hospital in Guam after contracting the virus while serving aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71).
Two reserve sailors have also died. Builder 2nd Class Nathan Huff Bishop, 33, a U.S. Navy Reserve sailor assigned to Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Akron, Ohio, died on Dec. 1. Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Abdigafar Salad Warsame, 52, assigned to NOSC Columbus, Ohio, died last month.
According to a Feb. 10 update from the Navy, 49 Navy civilians, 21 Navy contractors and one dependent have also died of the disease. A total of 52,312 COVID-19 cases have been reported, with 30,998 of those being military personnel. This week there are 4,720 active cases across military, civilian, contractor and dependent personnel, with ten military personnel hospitalized as of Feb. 10.
The following is the complete Feb. 13, 2021 statement from Expeditionary Strike Group 2.
On Feb. 12, 2021 Aviation Support Equipment Technician 1st Class Marcglenn L. Orcullo, age 42 of Hawaii, a U.S. Navy Sailor assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, died of COVID-related complications Feb. 12, 2021.
Orcullo was admitted to Sentara Princess Anne Hospital on Jan. 17 where he tested positive for COVID-19. Orcullo was subsequently transferred to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital on Jan. 29, where he was being treated in the ICU at the time of death.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and coworkers of Petty Officer Orcullo during this extremely difficult time, and we ask that their privacy be respected.
USS Wasp crewmembers are supported by chaplains, embedded mental health specialists, and counselors.
