Donald Brand Missing Person Case

Jan 01, 1970

Jan 01, 1970

Donald

Brand

44

White / Caucasian

Male

On November 5, 1987, a then 44-year-old Donald Lewis Brand, who also went by Donald Lewis Edwards, was a crew member on the fishing vessel Uyak. The vessel was in the Gulf of Alaska, approximately 20 miles south of Sitkalidak Island near Kodiak, when the unthinkable happened. The Uyak, a 112-foot trawler, sank, casting its six crew members into the unforgiving waters. The events of that day would leave a lasting mark on the community and the families of those who were lost to the sea. The sinking of the Uyak II prompted an immediate and extensive search effort. U.S. Coast Guard aircraft and commercial fishing vessels scoured the area, hoping to find the missing crewmen. Miraculously, two members of the crew, the captain and a deckhand, were found and rescued from one of the vessel's liferafts. Their survival was a small beacon of hope in a situation shrouded in tragedy. The two survivors were Brian VanVelkeningburg and Bradley Talbot. Despite the exhaustive search, the other four crew members, including Donald Brand, were never found. The four men who were lost and presumed dead were Gregory D. Klinkenburg, Rogerio N. Jamie, Donald Brand, and Hee K. "Charlie" Im. The loss of these four individuals was a devastating blow to their families and the close-knit Alaskan fishing community. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living on the open ocean. The sinking of the Uyak II is a somber chapter in Alaska's maritime history, and the memory of Donald Brand and the other crew members who were lost continues to be honored by those who knew them. The case remains a painful memory for the families who were left with unanswered questions and the enduring grief of their loss.

Nov 05, 1987

Kodiak

Alaska

,

07/16/2026