A Mt. Lake High School graduate who had recently received a promotion from the U.S. Marine Corps has been reported missing following an incident in Japan.
Cpl. Eric John Niss de Jesus, a 2015 Mt. Lake Public High School graduate, was stationed at Okinawa, Japan, when Cpl. Niss de Jesus and three other Marines were caught in a rip current off the Japanese coast. The incident was reported Sunday morning.
The other three Marines were able to return safely to shore, but searchers were unable to immediately locate Cpl. Niss de Jesus.
A Facebook post from his mother, Jessica Blom, said that search efforts were continuing Monday and that she planned on flying to Japan while the search continued.
Blom also thanked people for their prayers and support.
“We are so very blessed with an amazing community and support group,” she said.
Cpl. Niss de Jesus had recently been selected to participate in the enlisted commissioning program to further train for a career as a Marine officer.
Cpl. Niss de Jesus lived in Mt. Lake with is mother, Jessica Blom, step-father Bob Blom, step-parents Jesse and Carloyn Karschnik, sisters Camille and Kaila Blom and brothers Ethan, Eli and Evan Karschnik and Alex Blom. His birth father, Marcos de Jesus, lives out-of-state.
Financial contributions are being collected to cover expenses for Blom while she is in Japan and her family while she is away.
Donations can be dropped off at the family’s home in Mt. Lake or to either Jaque Niss-Radtke or JennaLee Marcy.
Additionally, a PayPal site has been set up for people to donate online. Donations can be made to: paypal.me/jessblom.
