Remains Of Former Novi Man Missing From USS John McCain Identified

NOVI, MI — A former Novi resident died aboard the U.S.S. John S. McCain earlier this week, the U.S. Navy confirmed on Thursday. Kenneth Aaron Smith, 22, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, died when the McCain collided with a merchant vessel on Monday.

Kenneth Smith was originally from Michigan and attended Novi schools. He later moved to Virginia before moving to New Jersey and attending Cherry Hill High School East. One of Smith’s classmates from Cherry Hill High School East told NBC 10 Smith always wanted to follow his father into the Navy.

Smith was an Electronics Technician 3rd Class. Earlier this week, Smith’s mother, April Brandon of Milford, said she was told her son was unaccounted forby two officers who visited her home.

He was one of 10 sailors who were unaccounted for following the accident between the USS John McCain and the Liberian-flagged ship Alnic MC off the coast of Singapore at about 6:30 a.m. local time Monday.

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At the time Brandon was told her son was unaccounted for, none of the missing sailors had yet been identified. On Thursday, the Navy revealed the identities of the other nine sailors who were reported missing. They are:

• Electronics Technician 1st Class Charles Nathan Findley, 31, from Missouri
• Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class Abraham Lopez, 39, from Texas
• Electronics Technician 2nd Class Kevin Sayer Bushell, 26, from Maryland
• Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jacob Daniel Drake, 21, from Ohio
• Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Timothy Thomas Eckels Jr., 23, from Maryland
• Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Corey George Ingram, 28, from New York
• Electronics Technician 3rd Class Dustin Louis Doyon, 26, from Connecticut
• Electronics Technician 3rd Class John Henry Hoagland III, 20, from Texas
• Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Logan Stephen Palmer, 23, from Illinois

The bodies of some of the missing sailors have been located inside the McCain. Meanwhile, the Navy announced Thursday that they have suspended search and rescue efforts and shifted to recovery after more than 80 hours of a multinational effort. The Navy says that they searched a 2,100-square mile area. Efforts to recover the bodies of sailors from inside flooded compartments within the McCain will continue.

“On behalf of my entire family, I want to thank all those who have extended their condolences, sympathy and prayers during this very difficult time," his father, Darryl Smith, said in a statement, according to WDIV-TV.

"Kenneth was a great young man, son, and sailor. He truly loved his family, the Navy, and his shipmates. I am incredibly proud of his service to our country. He will be greatly missed and I am thankful we had 22 wonderful years together.

"As we mourn Kenneth, we would like to recognize and thank so many people for their efforts and support, especially the brave crew of USS John S. McCain, and all the search and rescue personnel who are still hard at work with a difficult task.

"We would also like to thank the Township of Cherry Hill, the Cherry Hill Police Department and the U.S. Navy for their support and assistance.

"Most important we ask you to keep in your thoughts and prayers all the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.

"As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for our family and I respectfully request that you allow us to grieve in private.”

In Michigan, hope for finding Smith alive was strong Wednesday night. A candlelight vigil was held near downtown Milford, a western Detroit suburb.

"My heart goes out to them," Dave Frederickson told WDIV-TV. "I didn't know them, but we're all brothers in arms and shipmates."

Prayers were said for Smith, who spent part of his childhood in nearby Novi, and a prayer quilt was presented to Brandon.

“Please keep hope, continue forward with your day, hug your family, love one another, pray or vibe positively, whatever it is you do,” Brandon wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday. “To the families of the other missing sailors, you're in my thoughts, my heart is at sea with yours.”

With reporting by Colin Miner (Patch Staff) and Anthony Bellano (Patch Staff)

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy