breaking overnight, search and rescue, an urgent mission is underway after a navy ship accident left ten sailors missing and another five injured. >> change in strategy. the president prepares to unveil his administration's long awaited plan for the war in afghanistan. >> plus, we remember comedy royalty. a look back at the incredible lives of jerry lewis and dick gregory. >> and eclipse mania is reaching totality. we'll take you from south carolina to illinois, and even wyoming, for a preview of it all. "early today" starts right now. >> thanks for starting your week with us. i'm frances rivera. search and rescue operations are now under way for ten american sailors who went missing after the "uss john s. mccain," a navy

destroyer, crashed into an oil tanker near singapore. at least five sailors were injured in the collision, which the navy is currently treating as an accident. nbc news global editor kyle perry is in seoul, south korea, this morning. kyle, what's the latest on this crash? >> reporter: well, phillip, as you said, that search and rescue is still under way. an hour left before darkness falls. it's a joint rescue mission between the navy and the navy in singapore. this comes on the heel of an another accident, the uss fitzgerald, seven u.s. sailors killed in that. an eerily similar incident. the question that everybody has for the seven fleet, how could this have happened? they carry these now famous surface to air batteries. they also carry with them the

latest in navigational equipment. there will be an investigation. for now the priority is finding those ten sailors. the ship itself uss john mccain is back in port. four of those five sailors are in the hospital. none of those injuries are life-threatening. >> kyle perry for us in seoul, south korea. this morning, the president wakes up in the white house after wrapping up his working vacation. first order of business -- primetime address as he unveils the strategy in afghanistan. and he'll make his afghanistan announcement this evening without his key strategist steve bannon by his side. as the white house undergoes more staff change-ups amid an onslaught of criticism both within and outside the beltway, nbc's kelly o'donnell has all that and more this morning. >> reporter: returning to washington after a crisis-laden summer vacation that seemed anything but restful for the

country, a new development the president will unveil his plan for u.s. forces in afghanistan, in a primetime address monday night. after a strategy session with his top advisers at camp david friday. and while nuclear tensions with north korea are running hot, defense secretary james mattis. >> once he announces what the strategy is, we can get more precise on afghanistan troop levels, what we're going to do. >> reporter: on the home front, tuesday, the president heads to arizona for a campaign rally, reconnecting with his political base. amid fallout over the racially fueled violence in charlottesville, concerned republicans say president trump's condemnations of white supremacists were cloudy. >> it's going to be very difficult for this president to lead if, in fact, that moral authority remains compromised. >> reporter: trump supporter jerry falwell jr. >> it could be more polished and more politically correct. but that's the reason i supported him, because he's not. >> reporter: following the white house shakeup that expelled the

hard-right nationalist steve bannon, a call for stability. >> the changes have to stop and we have to have a team. you can't keep putting new people in the lineup and think you're going to win a world championship. >> reporter: democrat, former secretary of homeland security jeh johnson said senior officials should not be pressured to resign. >> i'd say absolutely not. you have to stay. it's country first, and we need people like john kelly, jim mattis, h.r. mcmaster to right the ship. >> reporter: tonight at 9:00 p.m. eastern, the president will speak to service members in person in an audience at fort meyer base in virginia. and the nation by extension with his third primetime televised address. i'm told the president will talk specifically about u.s. forces and the number of troops in afghanistan as well as talking about his plan to get other countries in the region, like pang stan, to do more with

intelligence and diplomacy. >> all right, kelly, thank you don't miss our special coverage of the president's address, 9:00 p.m. eastern. arguably the most anticipated event of the summer the total solar eclipse. excitement is building across the country. as towns in the path of totality gear up for big celebrations. we've got you covered from east to west with nbc's jay gray in casper, wyoming, and erica edwards in clemson, south carolina. we'll start with jay. >> hey, good morning, frances, preparations going great here. we are on a ridge just above the city and in a few hours thousands expected to join us in this area. prime spot to view the daylight shifting to darkness. there is a sense of history here. >> it's been almost a hundred years since we've actually had a total solar eclipse go from one coast to the other coast.

>> reporter: but in just hours now, the shadow of the moon will travel across the united states from oregon to south carolina at close to 1500 miles an hour. each spot along the path going from daylight to darkness. >> the brightest stars and plan ets will show up. it's the temperature is going to drop, maybe up to 10, 15 degrees. even animals and plants are going to respond to this like it's night. >> reporter: it will only last 2 1/2 minutes or so, but those who have seen it say the experience will last a lifetime. >> it can be a transformative event. >> reporter: for many, there is an emotional, even spiritual effect as the earth, moon and sun align. >> it really gives you a sense of elation, plus it's a humbleness to realize that we are so tiny and small in this incredible universe. there are people with tears running down their cheeks. i've seen people on their knees praying. >> reporter: reactions now just

hours from becoming reality. >> all right. yeah, you know the only thing that would really prevent that at this point would be cloud cover. looking up right now, we can see the stars are out. hopefully, it will stay that way. phillip. >> we hope so. thank you, jay. now, let's go to erica edwards in clemson, south carolina. erica, how will people be enjoying the eclipse there today? >> reporter: people have started lining up here, setting up tents. it feels a little bit like gameday but this really super bowl for the scientists here. clemson was packed. it was move-in day for the students, lot of those parents have stayed on. the coast of carolina, the forecast was getting cloudy.

lot of people have changed their travel plans and going inland to where we are, expecting up to 100,000 people. things will start to get rolling here after lunch today, around 1:00, totally expected at 2:37 this afternoon and will last for 2:37. the skies are started to lighten up here now before they darken later this afternoon. if you are standing outside, no matter who you are, you'll need a few essentials. number one, bottled water. stay hydrated. if you didn't get a chance to get some of these solar eclipse glasses, you can make one of those pinhole projecters, there are youtube tutorials online. and moon pies. >> thank you, erica. be sure to stay with nbc

news and msnbc throughout the day for live coverage of the eclipse. live coverage of the eclipse. we will also be streaming on nbc news.com/eclipse. >> let's go to bill karins. >> this is it. the forecast hasn't changed much. we knew the western states were going to look the best. some issues in the middle of the country with shows are and thunderstorms. already popping up this morning. in the path of totality, millions of people are all lined up. it's nearly perfect. congratulations away from the coast of oregon. through idaho, through wyoming, it looks to be ideal as we do that early this afternoon. areas of kansas and missouri, that's where it gets problematic, especially around kansas city. coastal areas still to dodge some showers. overall, not many people complaining.

will stay that way for much of the east. above-average temperatures expected. trying to picture what the smelliest thing is that you've ever come across. people are lining up to smell this. the first three of rare corpse flowers bloomed. seven feet tall. the plant smell, described as a combination of rotting flesh, smelly socks, garlic, dirty diapers, that's the worst things combined into one. first time a north american institution that three of the plants are all blooming together. a little extra oomph to get all three together. >> lovely. >> people will be lined up at

opening, around the block, just to smell this flower. >> all right, bill, thank you. just ahead -- the incredible outpouring from all corners of the world for comic icon jerry lewis, that's next. up to a gillette shave. and at our factory in boston, 1,200 workers are starting their day building on over a hundred years of heritage, craftsmanship and innovation. today we're bringing you america's number one shave at lower prices every day. putting money back in the pockets of millions of americans. as one of those workers, i'm proud to bring you gillette quality for less, because nobody can beat the men and women of gillette. gillette - the best a man can get.

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sfwlmpblt we continue to get reaction on the death of legendary entertainer jerry lewis who died at the age of 91. jerry lewis, a complicated soul who made the whole world laugh has died. >> actor william shatner said, the world is a lot less funny today and the our greatest humanitarians saying thank you, jerry, you will be missed. we take a look at the life and legacy of the life and icon

of jerry lewis. >> reporter: most of the public saw him only as a funny man. >> you say you loved me. >> reporter: but jerry lewis was a lot more. during more than 60 years in show business he was an accomplished dancer, writer director, flphilanthropist, teacher and inventor. lewis dropped out of high school and took his comedy act on the road but it wasn't until he teamed up with dean martin until lewis became a star. >> within two years, these two guys who were almost out of work were making movies. >> reporter: martin and lewis became two of the highest paid entertainers of their day. >> a divorce is the only way out. >> reporter: on the tenth anniversary of their partnership, they split. >> i knew we went to the pinnacle. where were we going to go from there?

>> reporter: lewis launched his solo career. >> i'm not out of order. >> reporter: he appeared in more than 50 movies beginning in 1957. >> have you learned anything in your first class? >> only this morning looking in the morning before shaving, i enjoyed it so much i couldn't tear myself away. >> reporter: the "nutty professor" considered by many to be his masterpiece. he even tackled broadway. but to many, lewis is best known for his telethons for muscular dystrophy. he raised $2 billion in 34-plus years on the air. that earned him his only oscar. the humanitarian award. >> he was good at anything he tried. we've lost someone i think whose life really echoed the american dream.

>> reporter: at 91, lewis passed away peacefully surrounded by family. he lived an unforgettable life. miguel almagre, nbc news. >> jerry lewis dead at the age of 91. and civil rights activist dick gregory has died. he was one of the first community leaders to yaws racism. later he also became a nutritional advocate and motivational speaker. later later. and he was 84 years old. ahead -- the los angeles lakers are under investigation for tampering, plus, u.s.-backeding iraqi forces take on isis today. you're watching "early today." meta appetite control...

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the next phase in the fight against isis has just begun. u.s.-backed iraqi forces launched an operation to retake the city 50 miles west of mosul. as the iraqi tanks rolled in the u.s.-led coalition has been carrying out dozen of air strikes. officials estimate that up to 50,000 civilians remain in the city. iraq eye authorities have set up a toll-free number and a radio station to help guide the

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welcome back. of course we have things to worry about beside the eclipse. severe weather in the middle of the country. about 12 million at risk of experiencing the severe weather. no significant cloud coverage in the west. how about 2024? only seven years away, make your hotel reservations now, the next total eclipse from texas back up through portions of northern new england. it does miss the west coast the next one. >> i'm keeping these glasses for now. >> they're hard to come by, thank you, bill. eclipse prap rations are happening from coast to coast. along the path of totality. there's excitement a small town

in illinois, expected to experience the longest eclipse. >> how will carbondale be celebrating today? >> reporter: 200,000 people. we saw people boarding the amtrak train en route to carbondale yesterday. interstate 75 was backed up bumper to bumper according to state police. last night here, it was a festivallike atmosphere. street fair, food trucks. ozzy osbourne is having a concert knot of town. at this festival yesterday, we met two girlfriends who met from different places because of this astronomical phenomenon. >> i think from people upstate, up north, when we were coming

through it was like all these different license plates and they were coming right here to carbondale. >> reporter: the big place here in carbondale is where they'll meet behind me, tickets required to watch this eclipse together and we know there will be crowds all over town today watching this eclipse. by the way, phillip and frances, i have two extra pair of sunglasses for you. >> oh, my goodness. >> thank you so much. i know bill has his. but he's not going to use it. i have two kids but only one. >> are we going to sleep or going to watch the eclipse? got to watch the eclipse. >> yeah, i don't want to wait seven years for the next one. >> it all starts on the coast of oregon. we all have our glasses. >> happy solar eclipse day.

it is monday morning and it is eclipse day. everyone will be looking up in a few hours. live look outside this morning at fremont but you'd better make sure you have the special glasses. otherwise you'll hear all day, don't look at the sun. i'm laura garcia-cannon. >> and i'm marcus washington. it is the day that we have all been talking about. eclipse day is here. >> of course everyone wants to know will it be cloudy? and that is going to be the really big thing and a key factor in whether or not you'll be able to see it here in the bay area. it does look like it will be cloudy in spots. we are starting out with some clouds this morning and i want to show you where that area of totality will be as it moves across the