Seaman Luis Mancera, left, seen here alongside Seaman Jordan Charles on Oct. 25, 2022, died aboard the USS Ronald Reagan on Jan. 8, 2024. (Heather McGee/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — A sailor assigned to the USS Ronald Reagan was found dead Monday aboard the aircraft carrier, according to a ship spokesman.
Seaman Luis Mancera, 22, of California, was pronounced dead by the carrier’s medical personnel shortly after he was found unresponsive Monday morning, according to an email from spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Phil Chitty.
No further information on Mancera’s death was available Wednesday, Chitty wrote that day.
“Details about the manner of death are under investigation,” he said.
A boatswain’s mate, Mancera enlisted in June 2021, graduated from Recruit Training Command that September and reported for duty aboard the Ronald Reagan two months later, Chitty said.
Mancera received several personal and unit awards during his naval career, including the National Defense Service Medal, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, the Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, the Navy’s Battle “E” award and the Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with Sharpshooter device.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Sailor’s family, shipmates and friends,” Chitty said.
Mancera is at least the third U.S. service member to die in Japan since Dec. 24.
Airman 1st Class Isabella M. Garcia, 20, stationed at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, died Dec. 25. Details surrounding the incident are under investigation, the base public affairs office wrote in an unsigned email Jan. 11.
“The 18th Wing is focused on supporting her family, coworkers and others impacted,” the message said. “We strongly encourage all members to continue to support each other and utilize our team of professional helping agencies when in need.”
Petty Officer 3rd Class Romario Clennon, of Atlanta, died Dec. 30, less than a week after a self-inflicted gunshot wound aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson at Yokosuka.
Anyone contemplating suicide or who knows someone who is should seek assistance immediately by contacting the Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988, or the Military Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255, according to The Wellness Center & Health Promotion at the base.
The base emergency number is 911; the emergency number in Japan is 119.
