Groton— A 37-year-old Chief Petty Officer from the Naval Submarine Base, seven months away from qualifying for retirement, and his wife apparently died in the Thursday 20 February 2003 fire at a West Warwick, R.I., nightclub.

Chief Machinist Mate Daniel John Frederickson, who joined the Navy Sept. 19, 1983, and was qualified in submarines, was officially classified as "whereabouts unknown" on Friday evening (21 Feb.), said Lt. Cmdr. Joe Carpenter, a spokesman for Navy Region Northeast.

"As the local Navy realized the growing magnitude of the West Warwick tragedy and recognized the venue's popularity with local sailors, all the submarine base commands began to scrutinize the location of everyone this morning, during morning muster, to account for all of our sailors and civilian employees," Carpenter said.

Frederickson had been working at the Naval Submarine Support Facility since May 26, 2000. He was married, and his wife was presumed killed in the fire as well, according to sources.

The Frederickson's leave behind four (4) children that will need some immediate financial support through these dark hours of their lives.

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