Sailor dies after getting caught in rudder ram - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Sailor dies after getting caught in rudder ram

The Navy identified the sailor who died Saturday aboard the ballistic-missile submarine Nebraska as Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class (SS) Michael A. Gentile of Fairfield, Maine. Gentile, 21, who enlisted in 2005, was a member of Nebraska’s Blue Crew and had been assigned to the Kitsap, Wash.-based submarine since Nov. 15, 2006, Submarine Force-Pacific officials said in a statement Tuesday.

“Our sincerest condolences and prayers continue to go out to the family and friends of Petty Officer Gentile,” officials said in the statement.

Gentile had previously served on the ballistic-missile submarine Alaska. Officials said the incident remained under investigation and offered no other details about what the Navy calls the “apparent accident” as the boomer was operating off Oahu on Saturday.

Gentile apparently had become “entangled and pinned” in the rudder ram during a cleaning evolution, according to an item posted on the Naval Safety Center’s Web site. The Nebraska arrived in port in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Monday, officials said.

“There was no damage to the submarine,” said Lt. Cmdr. Dave Benham, a spokesman for Submarine Force-Pacific. “None of the other crew members were injured. The crew was brought into port to address the needs of the crew because of this tragedy” and to help in the investigations into the incident, Benham said, adding that it was premature to discuss what types of investigations will be conducted. Nebraska crew members had rendered medical assistance before the sailor was taken off the submarine by medevac helicopter, but he died en route to the hospital, said Lt. Kyle Raines, a spokesman with Submarine Group Trident in Silverdale, Wash.