Sailor falls off ship, is likely dead; 2nd missing

NORFOLK, VA. — A sailor returning from the war in Iraq was presumed dead after falling from his ship into the Atlantic Ocean about 900 miles off the Virginia coast, and a search was under way Sunday for a second sailor missing from the same vessel, officials said.

Petty Officer 1st Class Shaun Dale was the focus of an air and sea search after he was reported missing Sunday morning aboard the USS Nassau, Lt. Cmdr. Dave Werner, spokesman for the Atlantic Fleet, said in a telephone interview.

A search also was being conducted aboard the 833-foot amphibious assault ship, which has a crew of 964 and is transporting 1,900 Marines to North Carolina, then heading to its homeport of Norfolk.

Asked if Dale could be onboard, Werner said, "It's a very large ship, and they are actively searching inside the ship."

On Friday, Petty Officer 3rd Class Dwayne Williams, 23, of Philadelphia, fell from the Nassau while chasing a football.

Cmdr. Ernest Duplessis, a spokesman for the Navy's Second Fleet, confirmed Sunday that the Navy had ended its search and that Williams' body had not been recovered. Williams had been in the Navy for nearly four years.

Capt. Terry O'Brian said it was possible Dale had been injured or incapacitated and was still on the ship.

The Nassau reversed its heading and searched for him, as did several aircraft. The search has involved helicopters from the Nassau and a fixed-wing C-130 Coast Guard search and rescue aircraft.

"Multiple searches have found nothing," Werner said.

Werner said the seas were swelling 5 to 7 feet and were about 70 degrees.

Werner said Dale listed a home address as Newport News, Va. A call to a listing under S. Dale was not answered Sunday night.

Capt. Russell Tjepkema said Williams was wearing coveralls and boots, which would have weighed him down, and did not have a lifejacket. He told CNN that the crew threw Williams a float and sent a rescue boat within 5 minutes. Rescuers found the float and searched for Williams until it became too dark to continue trying, he said.

The Nassau is scheduled to drop off the 24th Marine Expeditionary Force in North Carolina and return to Norfolk on Thursday, Duplessis said.