Eight Sailors on USS Abraham Lincoln Attempted Suicide During Deployment, Navy Says

Eight U.S. sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group attempted suicide during their extended deployment, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed in a letter to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. The disclosure came in response to concerns raised by family members regarding the mental health and conditions faced by the crew.

The USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed since November, is now returning to the United States. Cao stated in his letter that five chaplains and multiple mental health professionals were available on board to address the crew's spiritual and emotional needs.

The eight individuals included crew members from the Lincoln itself, as well as personnel from the carrier airwing, strike group, destroyer squadron staff, escorting destroyers, and embarked aviation squadrons. While the Navy had previously acknowledged supply challenges aboard the carrier, it denied reports of a mental health crisis among the approximately 5,000 crew members.

Cao's letter also addressed concerns about onboard facilities, denying widespread issues with plumbing and fresh food shortages. However, he acknowledged temporary, localized piping failures and problems with the reverse osmosis desalination units. He also noted that the number of main entree options at meals was reduced to one from two for a short period.

In August, the USS George Washington was deployed to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln after its nine-month tour of duty. For individuals affected by the issues raised, resources are available through BBC Action Line or the U.S. Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988.