Asante McCalla, a 24-year-old lieutenant junior grade in the U.S. Navy, went missing on August 18, 2018, while serving aboard the USS *Lake Erie* (CG 70), a guided-missile cruiser. The ship was conducting routine training operations off the coast of Southern California as part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group when McCalla failed to report for duty the following morning. His absence triggered a man-overboard search.
Despite an extensive search and rescue operation by the Navy and Coast Guard, covering over 16,550 square nautical miles, McCalla was not found. The search was called off after four days without any signs of him. McCalla, originally from Georgia, had been an accomplished officer, graduating from Morehouse College on a military officer scholarship and earning the rank of lieutenant junior grade in May 2018. He was deeply loved by his family, who expressed their devastation and called for more information about his disappearance.
The Navy officially declared him deceased after he was missing for ten days, though the circumstances of his disappearance remain unclear. His family continues to honor his memory, establishing a scholarship fund in his name.
Last Seen: Aug 18, 2018
