US sailor, 19, declared lost at sea after going missing off Australia coast, remembered as a ‘hero’

A 19-year-old US sailor has been declared lost at sea after he was assumed to have gone overboard the USS George Washington off the coast of Australia.

Jose Antonio Rivera Lynch IV was identified as the missing sailor by the Navy on Aug. 1.

Rivera Lynch served as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Launch/Recovery Equipment) Airman onboard the aircraft carrier and went missing on July 28, only hours after a “positive” phone call with his parents.

“At just 19 years old, Jose faithfully served his country with honor, courage, and an unwavering commitment to protecting others,” his family revealed in a GoFundMe.

“Jose was more than a sailor — he was a loving son, a cherished brother, and a loyal friend whose laughter and light touched everyone around him. His sudden loss has left our family heartbroken and navigating the unimaginable grief of losing someone so young and full of promise,” the family added.

A search and rescue operation was launched for the missing sailor and included several Naval vessels and was assisted by the Australian Defense and Australian Border Forces.

Officials called off the search that lasted 45 hours and spanned an area of roughly 2,200 square miles on July 30, the Navy announced.

The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft was navigating the Timor Sea north of Australia when Rivera Lynch was reported missing.

Rivera Lynch had spoken with his parents just 12 hours beforehand, at around 10 a.m., and expressed how tired he had become due to his long workdays.

“We noticed the tiredness, we noticed that, and then he said, ‘I love you guys,’ ” the sailor’s father Juan Antonio Rivera III told News4Jax. “I said, ‘You’re the best of me. You’ve been to places I’ve never been and we are so proud of you.’

“That was the last thing I said to my son,” the heartbroken father said.

Rivera Lynch came from a long line of military service, following in the footsteps of his sister, father and grandfather.

“He is my hero,” Rivera said.

The Middleburg, Florida, native enlisted in the military as a 17-year-old in high school, as part of the Navy’s delayed enlistment program, before joining in June 2024.

He was assigned to the aircraft carrier when it was stationed at its homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, in January.

The mourning father remembered his son for his service and personality.

“He was vibrant, educated, humble. He served his country, he served the Navy and he has made his family proud,” he said.

Rivera Lynch’s family held a memorial earlier this month and he will be honored during a funeral and memorial service by the Navy on Sept. 19, in Yokosuka, Japan.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with Airman Rivera Lynch’s family, friends, and shipmates during this incredibly difficult time,” Carrier Strike Group 5 Commander Rear Adm. Eric Anduze, said according to USNI News.

“The courage and dedication shown by all personnel involved in this operation exemplifies the professionalism and commitment that defines our Navy.”