Drake
––––
Jacob Drake, of North Lewisburg, is one of the confirmed missing sailors who were aboard the USS John S. McCain on Monday when it collided with an oil tanker off the coast of Malaysia.
Drake is a 2013 graduate of Triad High School and is engaged to Megan Partlow of Marysville.
Drake had been previously stationed in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan, and was aboard the Naval guided missile destroyer Monday.
Partlow said, through Facebook, there will be a candlelit vigil honoring him and the other missing sailors Thursday, at 8:30 p.m., at the North Lewisburg Ball Park. Partlow didn’t want to comment on the situation.
“His family is asking for space right now and are not ready to talk,” she told the Journal-Tribune through a Facebook message. “We are asking to spread the word of the vigil that is tomorrow night.
She said the family does not want any media attention at the vigil.
“We are trying to pull our whole community together to help us all cope and pray in this time of need,” she wrote.
Triad School Superintendent Chris Piper said he’s been trying to get in contact with Drake’s family and his thoughts and prayers are with them.
According to The Associated Press, the last time Partlow had communication with Drake was on Sunday night. While Partlow requested there be no cameras or interviews with the family while at the vigil, she said the family is allowing full access to all of his pictures on Facebook.
According to the AP, Navy Admiral Scott Swift said divers have found remains of some of the 10 missing sailors aboard the USS John S. McCain. There is an official search and rescue mission underway to find the sailors.