Navy sailor from Gulfport dies on U.S.S. Enterprise (mysterious death while in Middle East)

The Tampa Tribune ^ | June 09, 2012 | HOWARD ALTMAN

[Dave346]

A sailor from Gulfport was found dead in his berthing compartment aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise in the Middle East on Friday morning, according to a ship spokeswoman.

Master Chief Petty Officer Richard J. Kessler, 47, was found dead in his compartment at 7 a.m. local time, according to Lt. Com. Sarah Self-Kyler.

The cause of death is under investigation, said Navy Lt. Greg Raelson.

[justa-hairyape]

They are reporting what they were told by relatives of US service personal in the area. Not what Obama ordered them to report. That automatically gives them extra credence, but we simply do not have enough independent confirmation at this point in time. Your knee jerk reactions that did not even address my actual postings, non-withstanding.

[Mears]

I know three men that died young from sudden heart attacks.

One in his 30s.the other two in their early 40s.

[Mears]

“No one knew how or why they died.”

—

Now THAT’S really weird.

[hosepipe]

People often die... whats the problem?

[cva66snipe]

Sadly, it does happen. I knew an Air Force Colonel, early 40s, physically fit and near the lower end of the insurance “weight tables” for his height. Always in the gym or doing PT at 6 am. Finished a workout one morning at Langley AFB, went straight to his desk. When he failed to show up for a nine am staff meeting, someone was sent to check on him. Didn’t respond to a knock on his door, so the Lt went into his office. Found the Colonel face down on his desk, dead of a heart attack. I also remember a Lt Col (navigator) from my days in SAC. Retired in early 85 after 20 years of active duty. Had just built his dream home and landed a job with a defense contractor. Died from a heart attack two weeks after his retirement ceremony. He was 43.

I'm sure more guys had heart attacks on the ship likely while in port. The chief that died during the deployment we were on was taken in a body bag to the aft walk in cooler and a watch posted outside. This would be protocol for anyone who died onboard by accident or any other circumstance otherwise. My shop which was Air Conditioning & Refrigeration had the responsibility for standing that watch until fly off was arranged.

Heart attacks are not a respector of ones age or youth. My first wife had a fatal one at age 23.

[daisy mae for the usa]

Noticed in the Tampa Bay Online article in the comments section a Maude Alice Whitfield said her husband was also on the ship. Her name links to her facebook acct. Wonder if she knows anything about the other story?

[tet68]

One of my buds from Nam went in for a stress test
and died on the treadmill, he was probably 60.

[tet68]

If they had been in port it might be that he died
in the arms of a bar girl. One of our gunnys died
like that in Iwakuni Japan. Don’t think they ever
told the wife.

[Mears]

Sorry about your friend.

We had a priest years ago that every single Sunday would say “We know not the day nor the hour”.

I was young and thought it was quite funny.

I don’t anymore.

That said,as an old lady,fast is the way I want to go.

[2CAVTrooper]

When I was stationed in Germany, our brigade surgeon had a massive stroke and died a day later. I can remember that he was a health nut, and could PT anyone of us into the ground.

Then while I was stationed at Ft Polk, we had a guy in my unit drop dead during PT. According to the doctors, he was dead before he hit the ground.

Both cases they were in their early to mid 40’s

[MindBender26]

Let me get this right:

Some unknown website says some unknown guy in New Hampshire says he was told by some unknown people that some unknown sailors say that 4 unknown jets attached a US aircraft carrier... and the Navy is going to keep 3000+ sailors quiet about it... and you believe it?

Wanna buy a bridge in Brooklyn?

[brityank]

Was it your thread pulled?

Yes it was. It was a rumor that was passed to me from one of my family, as we have someone in the Navy in training in Florida. Digging around, the SUA site was the only one that had some relevant detail, while still calling it problematic. I too appended [Awaiting Confirmation] instead of their "Breaking" appellation, hoping that the FReeper crew would dig out the truth. They did.

Earlier Saturday I got a note from machogirl with the story of the Master Chief's death from Friday morning. Seems that was the initiation of that story, but there have been numerous other stories of random firings of small weapons at our ships along that choke-point. I also believe there are standing orders for non-essential personnel to stay out of exposed areas during select areas of the transit, for crew safety. All it would take is one idiot jihadi to try to create a problem, and as we already know this admin won't give us the truth up front.

Thanks, All.