I was navigator on board the Edson in 1967 when the fireman E-3 died. While I don't have direct knowledge of the death, I did her it discussed in the wardroom. We were in Subic Bay working tropical hours. The sailor had been missing for quite a while. His body was found in a void below decks aft. No one could prove it, but it appeared he may have been malingering and snuck into the void to sleep. Paint fumes had collected in the space and apparently he suffocated.

I would be interested to know if anyone else who was aboard at that time volunteers information. The suicide does make for a better story though.