The sailor's father, Jose Rivera III, spoke to local Virginia news outlet WVEC-TV on Friday, Aug. 1, about his son's passion for his role in the U.S. Navy — and shared that he had spoken with his son just 12 hours before he went missing.

The U.S. Navy has identified the sailor who was reported missing earlier this week from the aircraft carrier George Washington as it transited the Timor Sea. Here, the carrier transits while underway in the Philippine Sea on June 15. (MC3 Geoffrey L. Ottinger/U.S. Navy)