In the late afternoon of a Monday in Newport News, Virginia, a young sailor was found unresponsive on a pier alongside the submarine to which he was assigned, the USS Montana. The sailor was Devon Jeffrey Faehnrich, a 21-year-old male Electronics Technician 3rd Class in the U.S. Navy. He was quickly transported to Riverside Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Originally from Westminster, Colorado, Faehnrich had enlisted in the Navy in 2021, just after graduating from
high school. The USS Montana was his first assignment after completing submarine school. He had reported to the fast-attack submarine in March 2022 and had been promoted to petty officer 3rd class in November of that year. At the time of his death, he was in the process of being promoted again.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service launched a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Faehnrich's death, which is standard procedure for any non-combat death of a service member. The investigation by the chief regional medical examiner subsequently determined that the cause of death was a suicide resulting from a gunshot wound to the head. As a result of this finding, there have been no arrests or suspects identified in connection with his death.
The loss of Devon Faehnrich was deeply felt by his fellow service members. The spokesman for Submarine Forces Atlantic issued a statement expressing profound sorrow for the loss of their shipmate and extending thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, and coworkers. In the wake of this tragedy, grief counseling and support services were made available to those affected through the chain of command and the command chaplain.
