US Navy Sailor Lost Overboard During Baltic Operations

The US Navy has announced that Seaman Recruit David L. Spearman,19,was lost overboard from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missie destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) on 1 August 2022 in the Baltic Sea near Helsinki,Finland.During watch that afternoon,a lookout saw a person in the water.Man overboard procedures were initiated.The ensuing search involved both the German and Swedish Navies,as well as the Arleigh Burke's crew and the US Air Force.The search was called off on 2 August.* Seaman Recruit Spearman was from Etowah,Henderson County in Western North Carolina.He had completed training at Surface Warfare Engineering School Command in Great Lakes,Illinois in April.According to his commanding officer,Commander Pete Flynn,David made an oversized,positive impact on the warship.CDR Flynn also thanked all those involved in the extensive,day and night search and rescue efforts.Spearman,called "Dee" by his family,had a family history of naval service.* The Arleigh Burke is one of four destroyers forward-deployed to Rota,Spain.They are to be joined by two more destroyers as ordered by US President Joeseph R. Biden,bringing the total to six,in light of Russia's unwarranted aggression against Ukraine,which has necessitated an increased NATO presence along the Alliance's Eastern Flank.The augmented destroyer presence,long sought by U.S. European Command,will facilitate better sensing,command and control,and ballistic missile defence capability.* For if we live,we live to the Lord;and if we die,we die to the Lord.Therefore,whether we live or die,we are the Lord's.(Romans 14:8)