2017 USS Fitzgerald Accident: Navy Preliminary Inquiry and Line of Duty Determination Report Regarding Injuries and Deaths of Seven Sailors in June 2017 Collision with Container Ship ACX Crystal

This is a complete reproduction of the official Navy report issued in August 2017 about its line of duty investigation of the USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) collision off the coast of Japan June 17. This report specifically reviews the crew's damage control activities, the nature and extent of injuries to the crew and efforts to provide medical care to the most critically injured personnel, along with details regarding assistance provided by other vessels, diving activities and the ship's return to port in Yokosuka. The report provides details and accounts of actions taken following the collision and reports: Through their swift and in many cases heroic actions, members of the crew saved lives. After the collision, Sailors responded to the myriad damage control scenarios occurring throughout the ship. Flooding, structural damage and reports of white smoke stressed the damage control organization; at the same time, efforts to restore power, propulsion, steering and navigation continued. No damage control efforts would have prevented Berthing 2 from flooding completely within the first two minutes following the collision.

Our reproduction is dedicated to the seven heroes who perished:

GMSN Dakota Kyle Rigsby, USN, died on 17 June 20] 7 while onboard FITZGERALD. He was 19 years old. YN3 Shingo Alexander Douglass, USN, died on 17 June 2017 while aboard FITZGERALD. He was 25 years old. FC2 Carlos Victor Ganzon Sibayan, USN, died on 17 June 17 while aboard FITZGERALD. He was 23 years old. PS I Xavier Alec Martin, USN, died on 17 June 2017 while aboard FITZGERALD. He was 24 years old. STG3 Ngoc Truong Huynh, USN, died on 17 June 2017 while aboard FITZGERALD. He was 25 years old. GM2 Noe Hernandez, USN, died on 17 June 2017 while aboard FITZGERALD. He was 26 years old. FCI Gary Leo Rehm, Jr., USN, died on 17 June 2017 while aboard FITZGERALD. He was 37 years old.