Remains Of South Jersey Sailor Missing From USS John McCain Identified

CHERRY HILL, NJ — A Cherry Hill man died aboard the U.S.S. John S. McCain earlier this week, the U.S. Navy confirmed on Thursday. Kenneth Aaron Smith, 22, of Cherry Hill died when the McCain collided with a merchant vessel on Monday.

Smith was an Electronics Technician 3rd Class. Earlier this week, Smith’s mother, April Brandon of Milford, Michigan, said she was told her son was unaccounted for by two officers who visited her home.

“I was incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Petty Officer Kenneth Smith," Cherry Hill Mayor Chuck Cahn said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Smith family and Kenneth’s friends during this difficult time. His was a life of service, and he proudly followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather as a member of the United States Navy.

"On behalf of the members of Township Council and our entire Cherry Hill community, I want to express my
sincere gratitude for the service and sacrifice of Petty Officer Smith, and all those who serve and defend the
United States at home and abroad.

"While I know there is nothing we can do to erase their heartbreak, the Township will continue to provide
whatever resources, comfort and assistance we can to the Smith family in the wake of this tragic loss.”

Smith was one of 10 sailors who were unaccounted for following the accident between the USS John McCain and the Liberian-flagged ship Alnic MC off the coast of Singapore at about 6:30 a.m. local time Monday.

At the time Brandon was told her son was unaccounted for, none of the missing sailors had yet been identified. On Thursday, the Navy revealed the identities of the other nine sailors who were reported missing. They are:

• Electronics Technician 1st Class Charles Nathan Findley, 31, from Missouri
• Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class Abraham Lopez, 39, from Texas
• Electronics Technician 2nd Class Kevin Sayer Bushell, 26, from Maryland
• Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jacob Daniel Drake, 21, from Ohio
• Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Timothy Thomas Eckels Jr., 23, from Maryland
• Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Corey George Ingram, 28, from New York
• Electronics Technician 3rd Class Dustin Louis Doyon, 26, from Connecticut
• Electronics Technician 3rd Class John Henry Hoagland III, 20, from Texas
• Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Logan Stephen Palmer, 23, from Illinois

The bodies of some of the missing sailors have been located inside the McCain. Meanwhile, the Navy announced Thursday that they have suspended search and rescue efforts and shifted to recovery after more than 80 hours of a multinational effort. The Navy says that they searched a 2,100-square mile area. Efforts to recover the bodies of sailors from inside flooded compartments within the McCain will continue.

Kenneth Smith is originally from Michigan. He later moved to Virginia before moving to New Jersey and attending Cherry Hill High School East. One of Smith’s classmates from Cherry Hill High School East told NBC 10 Smith always wanted to follow his father into the Navy.

“On behalf of my entire family, I want to thank all those who have extended their condolences, sympathy and prayers during this very difficult time," his father, Darryl Smith, said in a statement, according to WDIV-TV.

"Kenneth was a great young man, son, and sailor. He truly loved his family, the Navy, and his shipmates. I am incredibly proud of his service to our country. He will be greatly missed and I am thankful we had 22 wonderful years together.

"As we mourn Kenneth, we would like to recognize and thank so many people for their efforts and support, especially the brave crew of USS John S. McCain, and all the search and rescue personnel who are still hard at work with a difficult task.

"We would also like to thank the Township of Cherry Hill, the Cherry Hill Police Department and the U.S. Navy for their support and assistance.

"Most important we ask you to keep in your thoughts and prayers all the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.

"As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for our family and I respectfully request that you allow us to grieve in private.

Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1) called Smith an American hero, and said that both New Jersey and the country have lost a great young man.

“Kenneth sacrificed so much so that all of us could be safe and our community thanks him for his service as we mourn this terrible loss," Norcross said. “Former Cherry Hill classmates say Kenneth was smart, patriotic and always wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the Navy. As a father and father-in-law of veterans, I’m heartbroken by this awful news. I join our entire South Jersey community in mourning ET3 Kenneth Smith’s tragic passing. My family and I are keeping his loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.”

“On behalf of the entire Camden County Freeholder Board, I wish to extend our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of Kenneth Smith who proudly served his country aboard the USS John S. McCain," Camden County Freeholder Bill Moen said. "As I have said previously, his commitment to become a third-generation sailor, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather before him, is truly inspirational, and he exemplifies a life of service to others.

"Our county Office of Veteran Affairs has reached out to his family, and we have directed our staff to assist them in any way possible. Whenever a member of our community selflessly commits themselves to the defense and protection of our great nation it is imperative for us to provide whatever support and comfort we can to the family during these tragic times.”

Back in his home state of Michigan, hope for finding Smith alive was strong Wednesday night. A candlelight vigil was held near downtown Milford, a western Detroit suburb.

"My heart goes out to them," Dave Frederickson told WDIV-TV. "I didn't know them, but we're all brothers in arms and shipmates."

Prayers were said for Smith, who spent part of his childhood in nearby Novi, and a prayer quilt was presented to Brandon.

“Please keep hope, continue forward with your day, hug your family, love one another, pray or vibe positively, whatever it is you do,” Brandon wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday. “To the families of the other missing sailors, you're in my thoughts, my heart is at sea with yours.”

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.

With reporting by Colin Miner (Patch Staff) and Scott Daniel (Patch Staff)

Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy