Navy Investigates Multiple Suicide Attempts Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln During Extended Deployment
Acting Navy Secretary confirms eight sailors attempted suicide during the ship's lengthy mission off Iran, as one sailor's wife speaks out about his struggle and disciplinary proceedings.
Eight sailors serving on the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during an extended deployment in waters off Iran, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed Tuesday. The revelation comes as the Navy faces scrutiny over the conditions and mental health support provided to sailors on prolonged missions.
One of the sailors, a 19-year-old aircraft mechanic and father of two, reportedly sent his wife a text message weeks before jumping 67 feet from the carrier on August 3, stating, "the boat is finally getting to me." The deployment had already surpassed 250 days at that point and would continue for more than 300 days.
His wife, also 19, has spoken out against the Navy's handling of the incident, stating her husband had repeatedly expressed feelings of depression, exhaustion, and suicidal thoughts. She criticized the Navy for initiating disciplinary proceedings against him instead of providing necessary mental health care.
The sailor survived the plunge, remaining in the water for approximately 45 minutes before being rescued. He was not killed by his actions, nor were any of the other eight sailors who reportedly attempted suicide during the deployment.
According to reports, the sailor initially faced accusations of malingering and being absent without leave. These charges were later dropped, and he was ultimately found guilty of "jumping from a vessel" at a nonjudicial disciplinary proceeding. He received an oral reprimand and is expected to face a separation board.
His wife disputed claims that the incident might have been staged or that he was seeking attention, pointing out that wearing a flight suit was mandatory on the flight deck and that he was struggling in the water, not waving for help. She described the officer-of-the-deck memorandum that suggested his motives were "undetermined" and "appear suspect" as based on biased assumptions.
The USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, comprising roughly 6,000 personnel, was deployed in support of combat operations connected to the Iran war. Families of sailors had previously raised concerns about the cumulative physical and psychological strain, citing issues such as 12-hour shifts, plumbing problems, moldy showers, and reduced food portions due to resupply challenges. The carrier also experienced a record-long period without a port call.
The Navy stated that suicidal behavior itself is not punishable under the Uniform Code of Justice (UCMJ) and that such instances require a "safety-first response, clinical care, and command support." However, the sailor's wife contends that her family has received no adequate support since the incident and hopes that her husband's experience will prompt a broader re-evaluation of how sailors in crisis are treated.
While the eight suicide attempts have drawn attention, experts caution that more data is needed to determine if the strike group's rate is statistically unusual compared to the overall Navy active-duty population. In 2024, the Navy recorded 356 suicide attempts among approximately 337,000 active-duty sailors.