Seven US sailors who died in a collision between destroyer USS Fitzgerald and a commercial ship on June 17 posthumously advanced to their next rank, the US Navy announced on Wednesday.
– Gunner’s Mate Seaman Dakota Kyle Rigsby, 19, from Palmyra, Virginia, was posthumously advanced to Petty Officer 3rd class.
– Yeoman 3rd Class Shingo Alexander Douglass, 25, from San Diego, California, was posthumously advanced to Petty Officer 2nd class.
– Sonar Technician 3rd Class Ngoc T Truong Huynh, 25, from Oakville, Connecticut, was posthumously advanced to Petty Officer 2nd class.
– Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Noe Hernandez, 26, from Weslaco, Texas, was posthumously advanced to Petty Officer 1st class.
– Fire Controlman 2nd Class Carlos Victor Ganzon Sibayan, 23, from Chula Vista, California, was posthumously advanced to Petty Officer 1st class.
– Personnel Specialist 1st Class Xavier Alec Martin, 24, from Halethorpe, Maryland, was posthumously advanced to Chief Petty Officer.
– Fire Controlman 1st Class Gary Leo Rehm Jr., 37, from Elyria, Ohio, was posthumously advanced to Chief Petty Officer.
The remains of these seven sailors were located June 18, in flooded berthing compartments, after divers gained access to the spaces that were damaged when the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald was involved in a collision with the Philippine-flagged merchant vessel ACX Crystal.