April 13th, 2020 marked the death of the first active-duty U.S. Navy servicemember due to the COVID-19 infection. Said U.S. Sailor was one of the 585 USS Theodore Roosevelt crewmembers who tested positive for the coronavirus. He tested positive for the infection on March 20th, evacuated ashore into his quarantine room where he was found unconscious on April 9th during a daily medical check conducted by the onsite medical team. The affected Sailor was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation and then subsequently moved into the Intensive Care Unit at Naval Hospital Guam.
This tragedy comes as four additional Sailors from the USS Theodore Roosevelt were transferred to the Naval Hospital over the weekend, according to an official statement from CMDR. Clay Doss. The Navy spokesman added that none of the four crewmembers required the aid of ventilators or Intensive Care, and were in stable condition as of Monday, April 13th.
The U.S. Navy has revealed the identity of the deceased Sailor on April 16th as Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker Jr., a 41-year old Aviation Ordnanceman hailing from Fort Smith, Arkansas. During his Navy service, CPO Thacker served on carriers USS Constellation (CV-64), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), and USS George Washington (CVN-73) before coming onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. His shore assignments include Naval Air Weapons Maintenance Unit 1, Agana, Guam, Air Test & Evaluation Squadron 9, China Lake, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101, Naval Air Station Miramar, and Fleet Training & Readiness Center, Naval Air Station North Island, California. CPO Thacker’s decorations include two Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medals. His spouse Symantha – also an active-duty Sailor in San Diego – was flown to Guam by Navy Air Logistics Office on April 11th, to be at his side during his passing.
Navy investigators plan to release results of the findings into the circumstances surrounding the Command Management of USS Theodore Roosevelt by end of the week.
