Minnesota Sailor Dies Aboard USS Ronald Reagan

A Minnesota sailor on the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan died after he was burned by hot water while working on the ship's propulsion system. Petty Officer First Class Benjamen J. Farrell, 26, of Maplewood, Minn., was scalded Tuesday while disassembling a valve in the steam plant. No one else was injured, according to a Navy spokesman. The Reagan, based in San Diego, was en route to Hawaii, where it was scheduled to deliver two aircraft for tsunami-relief efforts in South Asia. The ship reversed course, and Farrell was flown to San Diego for treatment. He died during the flight.
Services for Benjamin Farrell will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Church of St. Agnes in St. Paul. He will be buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.