Body Recovered from Water off Pyramid Rock Beach Identified as USS Olympia Sailor
By MC2 Ronald Gutridge
COMSUBPAC Public Affairs

Release Date: 03/08/2010

(PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii) - The body found and recovered from the water, 20 meters from the shores of Pyramid Rock Beach, Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCB Hawaii), at approximately 1:40 p.m. Saturday, has been identified as Electricians Mate 1st Class (SS) Robert Lawrence Mudd from the Los Angeles class fast attack submarine USS Olympia (SSN 717).

Mudd, 29, of Fort Mitchell, KY, joined the Navy in June 1998.  He had been assigned to USS Olympia since May 30, 2007.  He had previously served at the Trident Training Facility in Kings Bay, GA, and aboard USS Nebraska (SSBN 739 Gold). 

Our sincerest condolences and prayers go out to the family and friends of Petty Officer Mudd.  A memorial service for the Olympia crew is being planned for later this week at the Submarine Memorial Chapel on Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam. 

First responders from MCB Hawaii had been alerted to flares sighted in the air near Pyramid Rock Beach at approximately 6:20 p.m. Friday evening, and shortly after Mudd was spotted in distress on a life raft.  MCB Hawaii rescue swimmers, rescue boats, and Honolulu Fire Department responded, but reduced visibility and high surf conditions prevented rescuers from reaching Mudd before losing sight of him.  

MCB Hawaii military police, a helicopter and fixed wing aircraft from U.S. Coast Guard District 14 and Honolulu Fire Department personnel continued to search throughout the night with negative results.  Mudd’s body was found Saturday by MCB Hawaii lifeguards.  No wreckage of a boat has been found at this time.

Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, no further details of the incident are available at this time.  Questions regarding the investigation should be referred to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Honolulu Police Department.