Navy identifies Champaign County sailor as among those missing

Jacob Drake, left, is among the nine sailors missing from the USS John S. McCain. U.S. Navy photo

Jacob Drake, left, is among the nine sailors missing from the USS John S. McCain. U.S. Navy photo

The U.S. Navy on Thursday officially identified the sailors missing after an accident on the USS John S. McCain, including a 2013 Triad grad from Champaign County.

Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jacob Daniel Drake, 21, from Champaign County is among the nine officially missing and one dead after the McCain collided with a merchant ship near Singapore earlier this week. A vigil for Drake will be held at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at the ballpark in North Lewisburg.

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Divers recovered the remains of Electronics Technician 3rd Class Kenneth Aaron Smith, 22, officials said.

Eight other sailors remain missing. Navy officials identified them as:

  • 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
  • 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

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Crews searched a 2,100-square mile area east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore after the Liberian-flagged Alnic MC and the USS John S. McCain collided on Monday. Five sailors were injured.

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