One of the Navy’s elite died on Veterans Day in an off-duty outing to Zanzibar, Naval Special Warfare Command announced.
Lt. Mark Weiss, 35, of Michigan, was spending post-deployment leave spearfishing with a fellow service member on the island off the coast of Tanzania when the accident occurred, the San Diego Union Tribune reports.
Weiss, a member of the Coronado-based Special Boat Team 12, Navy Special Warfare Group 4, was commissioned in 2011 through the Navy’s Seaman-to-Admiral 21 program after previously serving as an enlisted SEAL.
A second individual involved in the accident has not been identified.
“The other service member was injured and is receiving medical treatment,” Navy officials said.
Weiss was highly decorated, having received the Bronze Star Medal with combat “V” device.
“The Naval Special Warfare community is deeply saddened and mourns the tragic loss of one of our own,” officials said. “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to their families during this difficult time.”
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The SEAL community has been hit hard as of late. Cmdr. Seth Anthony Stone, 41, died while off duty on Sept. 30 after his parachute failed to open following a jump from a hot air balloon.
J.D. Simkins is the executive editor of Military Times and Defense News, and a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War.
