A Presque Isle man was among the seven people who died when the fishing vessel Lily Jean sank off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, on Friday, Jan. 30.
Freeman Short, a staff sergeant with the Maine Army National Guard, was a crew member of the ship, according to a social media post by the Maine National Guard.
Short joined the Maine Army National Guard in December 2012 as a mountain infantryman. He deployed to the Horn of Africa in 2021, spending time in Djibouti and Somalia, and participated in specialized mountaineering training with U.S. allies in Montenegro, according to the post.
“He was one of the hardest-working and most dedicated individuals I have ever had the privilege of leading,” said platoon sergeant Wayne Dyment. “He was exactly what a Mountain Infantryman should be and more. Above all, he was a man of faith, and his strength and character continue to inspire me and others around him every day.”
Short was promoted to sergeant upon his unit’s return in 2022 and was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant. His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and Global War on Terrorism medals.