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SUBJ: FIR - SWIMMER IN LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ATTRACTS COAST GUARD, LAW 
ENFORCEMENT, MEDIA ATTENTION AT VICKSBURG, MS

 

1. SOURCE/RELIABILITY/CREDIBILITY: COAST GUARD  MEMBER/RELIABLE/CONFIRMED.

 

2. SUMMARY: AN OBJECT ORIGINALLY REPORTED AS A "BODY IN THE WATER" IN THE 
LMR NEAR VICKSBURG, MS WAS DETERMINED TO BE A LIVE PERSON. A TOWING VESSEL REM 
OVED THE SWIMMER WHO CLAIMED TO BE AN ACTIVE DUTY MARINE ON A "TRAINING SWIM."
IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THAT THE SUBJECT IS AN ACTIVE DUTY USMC MEMBER.

 

6. TEXT:

A. ON THE CAPTIONED DATE, LAW ENFORCEMENT RECEIVED REPORTS OF A 
"BODY IN THE WATER" IN THE LMR NEAR THE VICKSBURG, MS WATERFRONT. AN LE RESPONSE 
BOAT AS WELL AS A TOWING VESSEL (UTV) RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AT MILE MARKER 
435.8 (GEO-CORDS: 32-18.53N/090-54.26W).

 

B. A LIVE PERSON WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED WHO CLAIMED HE WAS OUT FOR A 
ROUTINE SWIM IN THE RIVER. IT IS NOTED THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS NEAR FREEZING 
AND THE SWIMMER WAS IN THE MAIN CHANNEL OF THE RIVER.

 

C. THE SUBJECT AGREED TO COME ABOARD THE UTV AND WAS REMOVED TO THE  TERMINAL
ON THE VICKSBURG WATERFRONT. SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO THE SCENE  ALONG
WITH THE PORT SECURITY SPECIALIST, VICKSBURG.

 

D. SUBJECT WAS IDENTIFIED AS AN ACTIVE DUTY US MARINE WHO CLAIMED HE  PLANNED
A SWIM IN THE RIVER FOR SEVERAL MILES AND THEN RUN BACK TO HIS
STARTING POINT. IT APPEARED THE SUBJECT WAS IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION, 
SUFFERED NO APPARENT EFFECTS FROM THE COLD WATER AND WAS WEARING A WET SUIT FOR 
PROTECTION.

 

E. IT IS NOTED THAT THE SUBJECT WAS ACTUALLY WEARING CIVILIAN CLOTHES OVER 
THE WET SUIT AND CARRIED A PACK THAT HE CLAIMED CONTAINED FOOD AND SURVIVAL 
EQUIPMENT.

 

F. THE SWIMMER WAS IDENTIFIED AS: ..........., WM, DOB: 1983, SSN  AVAILABLE.
HE IS A SSG (E-6) IN THE US MARINE CORPS ACCORDING TO HIS MILITARY  CAC CARD.

 

G. IN A SUBSEQUENT INTERVIEW IN A LOCAL NEWSPAPER, , WHO CLAIMED TO BE A 
VICKSBURG NATIVE VISITING HIS FAMILY, SAID HE WALKED INTO THE RIVER FROM THE 
RIVER FRONT PARK EARLIER IN THE MORNING. HE CLAIMED HE PLANN ED TO SWIM TO 
LETOURNEAU IN SOUTHERN WARREN COUNTY AND
THEN JOG APPROXIMATELY SIX MILES BACK TO HIS PARENT'S RESIDENCE.

 

H. TOLD A REPORTER HE HAD BEEN SWIMMING IN THE RIVER SINCE "HE WAS A KID." 
HE SAID HE WAS TRAINING FOR A FUTURE ATTEMPT TO SWIM ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI 
RIVER. CLAIMED THAT HE WAS IN NO DANGER AND WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE CONTINUED 
HIS SWIM.

 

7. COMMENTS:

A. WAS POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED ON THE SCENE. AN INQUIRY WITH THE 
NAVAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE (NCIS) CONFIRMED THAT HE WAS AN
ACTIVE-DUTY  MARINE

 

B. THE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28 DEGREES
WHEN LEFT THE WATER. RESCUE PERSONNEL ON THE SCENE DOUBTED ABILITY TO 
SURVIVE THE SWIM BASED ON THE TEMPERATURE, CURRENTS,RIVER TRAFFIC AND DEBRIS IN  THE
WATER.

 

C. THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DID CONTACT FAMILY AND ASKED IF HE 
WAS SUFFERI NG FROM ANY MENTAL PROBLEMS. HIS FATHER REPORTEDLY TOLD THE
SHERIFF,  "ONLY WHEN HE JOINED THE MARINE CORPS."

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