Sailor remembered at NAS Oceana

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - It's been a sorrowful day at NAS Oceana. The morning after losing one sailor to a car accident friends and colleagues gathered to remember another sailor who died at sea last weekend.

Command Master Chief Jeffrey Garber from Virginia Beach was found unresponsive in a berthing area of the carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Initial indications are the 43 year old died of natural causes.
 

Next to family there was only one thing Master Chief Jeffery Garber loved more: Serving his country.

"There is just no others out there like him," said CMDCM Bruce Pickinpaugh. "He is just one of those one a million leaders out there that everybody respects."

A sea of white lines Tomcat Boulevard. Oceana Sailors of all ranks showing their respect. For many, it was a final chance to say good bye to someone who touched everyone he meet.

"The smile that he had, the personality that he had, you automatically felt comfortable talking to him," said FORCM Fred Pharr. "You felt like he was a friend when you walked up to him and when you walked away from him."

Master Chief Garber severed his country of almost three decades.

"He was always looking to do something for somebody," added Pharr.

His loving wife, two daughters and son say he was the type of person who never forget where he started. His fellow sailors say the same thing.

"He didn't care if you were E1 or O10, it didn't matter to him the rank difference," added Pickinpaugh.

His crew is still out to sea on board the USS Eisenhower. We're told there was a memorial service on the ship at the exact same time the service started at Oceana.