One of two Navy SEALs presumed dead after being lost at sea during a nighttime raid near Somalia has been identified as a North Texan.
On the night of Jan. 11, Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram, 27, was on the water. He was in the process of seizing a ship that was illegally transporting sophisticated lethal supplies from Iran. According to a Navy statement, the aid was intended to resupply Houthi forces in Yemen.
Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram, 27 (left) and Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers, 37 (right).
Gage Ingram came from Trophy Club, Texas, just outside of Roanoke in Denton County.
Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers, 37, was the other SEAL whose name was announced by the Navy on Monday.
According to reports from U.S. defense officials, the SEALs attempted to board a dhow, a small boat, that night. However, due to the rough sea conditions, one of the sailors fell into the water. Following standard protocol, the military said a second sailor jumped in to save the first. Unfortunately, both disappeared into the darkness.
The Navy said Gage Ingram and Chambers completed boot camp at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, just outside Chicago, before completing SEAL qualification training in Coronado, California.
“It’s more challenging; “It's a military operation and unfortunately it had this tragic outcome,” Mark Balmert told NBC 5.
Balmert is a former U.S. Navy rear admiral who led SEAL operations like the one Ingram and Chambers were sent to after their disappearance. Balmert said attempting to secure a moving vessel for an open water search poses serious risks.
“When you move through the sea, the sea is rough. The operation takes place at night,” said Balmert. “There are just a lot of inherent risks associated with that that make it more difficult.”
Some Marine experts told NBC 5 they wanted to see the results of an investigation into the operation; Regardless, Navy SEALs approach such scenarios knowing that their lives are at stake.
“It's just a dangerous operation and unfortunately something went wrong,” Balmert said.
NBC 5 reached out to Gage Ingram's family. Family members responded that they weren't ready to talk about him and this loss yet, saying they were still working to get more information about how it happened.