Navy Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Dominique D. Cruz

Remember Our Heroes

Navy Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Dominique D. Cruz, 26, of Panama City, Fla.

Assigned to the destroyer Halsey, homeported in San Diego but currently deployed to the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations; was found during search and rescue operations Jan. 19, 2011 in the Gulf of Oman after being reported missing Jan. 18.

The USS Abraham Lincoln honored a local sailor after she apparently went overboard and died last week. “This week the Lincoln Strike Group family lost a shipmate to the perilous depths of the sea,” the Facebook page read. “A leader, a friend, a patriot, a hero. OS2 Cruz has gone to a far, far better rest than she has ever known, and today all Lincoln warriors fight in her name.”

The memorial was posted by the Lincoln’s public affairs team Friday, the day the Department of Defense released the identity of 26-year-old Navy Petty Officer Dominique Cruz, known to family and friends as Dominique McNair. The Panama City woman’s body was found during search and rescue operations Wednesday in the Gulf of Oman, located between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea south of the Iranian coast.

Navy officials said Sunday they had no new information about McNair’s death except to confirm the incident is still under investigation.

Friends and family have declined requests for comments about McNair, but dozens of supporters have shared their thoughts and prayers through Facebook postings.

“My heart is breaking!” one woman wrote. “You were an angel.”

A cousin, Victoria Janise McNair, posted shortly after learning of Dominique’s death: “R.I.P. Dominique McNair! Yu were amazing in every way possible. We all miss and love yu!”

Another cousin, Hailey “Ms. Lyte Eyes” McNair, as she is known on Facebook, posted Wednesday she “can’t stop crying. I didn’t even get the chance to tell u bye or give u a hug of nothing! I miss you so much!”

Melissa L. Bell, who serves in the Navy, also posted Wednesday. “My heart hurts, but u will always be in it! Thank you for allowing me to serve with you. I’ve been blessed. I miss you. RIP Dominique McNair.”

McNair was a native of Cleveland, Miss., and graduated from Cleveland High School in 2003, according to her Facebook profile. She later moved to Panama City, enlisted in the Navy in June 2006, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, and was assigned as an operations specialist to the USS Halsey, home ported in San Diego, in December of that year.

The Halsey had been deployed to the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility, conducting maritime security operations, according to the U.S. Navy. McNair did not report to her watch duty Tuesday and, after a search of the ship, a “man overboard” was called by the ship’s officials to search for her.

Helicopters from Halsey, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7) and the British Royal Navy’s HMS Cumberland (F 85), F/A 18 Hornets from the Lincoln and P-3 maritime patrol aircraft participated in the search operations.

From her Face Book page: I dont care about your farm, or your fish, or your park, or your mafia!!!, God still loves me, even if I don't forward those text messages, My parents didn't put me in time-out, they whooped my ass!, Sorry, I'm allergic to bullshiit., PRAYER IS THE KEY, Barack Obama, I BET THE SOUTH CAN GET 1,000,000 FANS BEFORE THE NORTH, Breast Cancer Awareness, Tyra Sanchez, I Love My Mama, Pray for Ariah, Dwight Howard, Saints, Positively Positive, Antonio McDyess, Debbie Allen, Hennessy, The Bible, Curvy girls are better than skinny girls!, Ashton Kutcher, Sanaa Lathan, Victoria's Secret Pink, Victoria's Secret, Taraji P. Henson, Don't give up on God because he never gave up on you..:), I Love Being Black, Tyler Perry, Maya Angelou, Target, I SUPPORT MY PRESIDENT, The Twilight Saga, If you DON'T want people in your business, Don't post it on your STATUS!, Michelle Obama, Jada Pinkett Smith, Kevin Hart, TATIANNA, Orlando Magic, I Hate Duty Days, Vin Diesel, Morris Chestnut

Navy Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Dominique D. Cruz was died 1/18/11.