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Watertown Mourns Loss Of Navy Sailor

U.S. Navy
The USS Fitzgerald returns to Fleet Activities Yokosuka following a collision with a merchant vessel while operating southwest of Yokosuka, Japan.

The community of Watertown, Connecticut is mourning the loss of Tan Huynh, who was among seven U.S. Navy sailors who diedwhen their destroyer collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan on Saturday. 

Huynh was a 25-year-old sonar technician. He and seven other sailors were found in flooded berthing compartments on board the USS Fitzgerald two days after it collided with a ship from the Philippines.

Huynh was once a student at Watertown High School, where the American flag is now flying at half-staff. Principal Paul Jones says teachers there remember Huynh as a respectful and caring student.

"Watertown's a very tight-knit community," Jones said, "and it's always a shock when you hear that anyone who has been a part of our community loses their life in the service."

Connecticut lawmakers shared condolences on social media:

Jones says about five percent of Watertown High School students go into the military after graduation each year. The incident remains under investigation.

Tucker Ives contributed to this report.

David finds and tells stories about education and learning for WNPR radio and its website. He also teaches journalism and media literacy to high school students, and he starts the year with the lesson: “Conflicts of interest: Real or perceived? Both matter.” He thinks he has a sense of humor, and he also finds writing in the third person awkward, but he does it anyway.

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