EOD Sailor Dies During Training

Camp Lejeune, North Carolina 2nd Class Petty Officer Taylor Gallant, 22, of Kentucky, died while conducting diving operations 25 miles off the North Carolina coast during a training operation. An EOD technician assigned to Mobile Unit 12, Gallant was training with a Canadian ship in preparation for an amphibious training exercise called Bold Alligator 2012 at the time of his death.

Details surrounding the incident are still under investigation but reports suggest that Gallant was conducting what was described as a routine exercise but at some point did not respond to cues. A second diver was sent down, found him unresponsive, and brought him to the surface.

Gallant enlisted in the Navy in 2008 and over the past three years has earned the Good Conduct Medal and The National Defense Service Medal.