The aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrives at its new homeport, Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Nov. 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Two sailors assigned to the USS George Washington died within days of the aircraft carrier’s arrival at its new homeport in Japan, a ship spokesman confirmed Monday.
The deaths of Petty Officer 2nd Class Cuyler Burnett Condon and Seaman Dimitri Isacc Morales are currently under investigation, USS George Washington spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Mark Langford said by email Monday.
The aircraft carrier arrived at Yokosuka, home of the U.S. 7th Fleet, on Nov. 22.
Condon, an electrician’s mate nuclear from Texas, was found unresponsive at a base hotel room on Nov. 22. Medical staff from U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka responded and pronounced Condon dead at the scene, Langford said.
Morales, an electrician’s mate fireman, was found unresponsive somewhere off base in Yokosuka on Nov. 25. Local emergency responders declared Morales dead, Langford said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with USS George Washington’s crewmembers and families following the loss of their Sailors,” he wrote. “Grief counseling and support services are available to the crew.”
The Naval Criminal Investigation Service is probing both deaths and is working with Japanese law enforcement on Morale’s case, Langford added.
A spokesman for NCIS, headquartered in Quantico, Va., did not respond to email and phone queries early Sunday.
Yokosuka police officers responded to the scene of Morale’s death, a spokesman said by phone Monday. He declined to provide additional details since the case is under investigation.
Some government officials in Japan are required to speak with the media only on condition of anonymity.
Condon enlisted in the Navy in January 2019. He attended Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill., and underwent nuclear training before reporting to the George Washington in January 2021, according to a biography shared by Langford.
Morales enlisted in July 2022 and trained at Great Lakes before reporting to the carrier in October 2023, according to his biography.
