The U.S. Navy identified Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards on Tuesday as the missing sailor from an MH-60S Sea Hawk that made an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea on July 1. He was the commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5.
That identification came after a search that lasted more than 102 hours and covered more than 14,000 square miles before U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said it was suspended on Sunday. Three members of the four-person crew were rescued at sea and returned to the USS George H.W. Bush, leaving Edwards as the only one still unaccounted for.
Rebecca Edwards said her husband was more than a name in a Navy notice. She said Gabe had dedicated his life to serving his country with honor, courage, and commitment, and described him as the love of her life, an extraordinary father to his children, and the foundation of their home. Edwards is survived by Rebecca and two children.
The search pulled in multiple aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, helicopter squadrons, anti-submarine squadrons, and U.S. Air Force aircraft. Rear Adm. Todd Cimicata said the thoughts and prayers of Carrier Strike Group 10 were with the family and called Edwards a fearless leader whose legacy will never be forgotten.
What remains unresolved is what forced the helicopter down in the first place. The Navy said there was no indication it was shot down by hostile action, but the cause of the landing is still under investigation. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao also said Edwards would be posthumously promoted to his selected rank of captain, a final honor that underscores how central he was to the squadron he led.
