On June 6, 2017, a sense of profound loss began to unfold for the family and shipmates of Christopher Woodlock Clavin, a 23-year-old Fire Controlman 2nd Class in the U.S. Navy. Hailing from Lincoln, Rhode Island, Christopher was stationed aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy. On that Tuesday afternoon, at approximately 3 p.m., while the vessel was conducting training exercises about 80 miles off the coast of Cherry Point, North Carolina, fellow personnel witnessed Christopher go
overboard into the Atlantic Ocean. He was last seen wearing his blue digital USN utility uniform and black iron-toed work boots. The unfortunate event triggered an immediate man overboard alert, launching a massive and urgent search and rescue operation in the waters off the Carolina coast.
The response to Christopher's disappearance was swift and extensive. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard initiated a comprehensive search effort involving a significant number of assets. The operation included the USS Normandy, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with four embarked helicopters, the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Forward, and guided-missile destroyers USS Bainbridge, USS The Sullivans, and USS Mason. Over the course of more than three days, these dedicated crews, supported by additional aircraft, scoured approximately 6,300 square miles of the ocean's surface, desperately hoping to find the missing sailor. Despite the exhaustive and determined efforts of all involved, the search tragically yielded no sign of Christopher.
After 76 hours of continuous searching, the official search and rescue operation for Christopher Clavin was called off at sunset on June 9, 2017. The decision was met with deep sadness from his fellow service members. The commanding officer of the USS Normandy, Capt. Derek Trinque, expressed this sentiment, stating, 'We are deeply saddened by the loss of our shipmate, Petty Officer Chris Clavin. He was an important part of the team and a friend to so many on board.' Christopher had enlisted in the Navy in July 2012, and the USS Normandy was his first duty assignment. The crew of the Normandy planned to hold a memorial service to honor their lost shipmate. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service, based out of the Norfolk Field Office, is the primary investigating agency for this case, which remains an open investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.Last Seen: Jun 6, 2017
