The Guam Police Department identified the missing USS Nimitz sailor as Gabriel D. Holt on April 19, 2025, when it sought the public’s help in the search. (Guam Police Department)
The U.S. Navy has suspended its nearly weeklong search for a sailor assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz who was reported missing Saturday.
The active search was officially called off at 9 a.m. Thursday, after U.S. and civilian agencies looked for 120 hours and covered more than 14,000 square miles offshore, Carrier Strike Group 11 said in a news release that day.
The Navy did not identify the sailor in the release, citing its next-of-kin notification policy. The Guam Police Department on Saturday identified him as Gabriel D. Holt when it sought the public’s help.
Navy policy calls for withholding identifying information until 24 hours after notification of an individual’s next of kin. The Navy lists the sailor as “whereabouts unknown,” the release states.
A strike group spokesperson did not respond to multiple emails this week seeking additional information, including the circumstances of the sailor’s disappearance.
Holt was last seen at 11:57 p.m. Friday between Hotel Nikko and Gun Beach, a distance of about 220 yards, the police department said on its official Instagram account. Police described him as 6 feet tall, 192 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes, and last seen wearing a white tank top, green shorts and gray shoes.
The USS Nimitz was in Guam for a scheduled port visit as part of what is likely the aircraft carrier’s last deployment.
Police spokeswoman Berlyn Savella confirmed by email Thursday that “collaborative efforts within local and federal agencies have ceased” but Guam police consider the case open.
Military assets involved in the search included crews from U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 from Guam; a Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft from Task Force 72 at Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan; and Guam-based 45-foot response boats and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Oliver Henry, according to the release.
Guam Fire Rescue’s coast and offshore teams also assisted, the strike group said.
Savella encouraged anyone with information about Holt’s whereabouts to contact the police department.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard on Saturday suspended its weeklong search for a local man who went missing offshore on a recreational fishing trip.
The search for Jeffrey Hattori, 58, concluded Saturday after the Coast Guard, Guam Fire Rescue and the Navy covered more than 120,000 miles looking for him after he disappeared April 12.
