Eight crew members assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during their lengthy deployment, according to a letter sent by Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on Tuesday. The disclosure came in response to questions from the New York Democrat regarding the well-being of sailors onboard, following mounting concerns from family members about deteriorating mental health and grim conditions. The carrier, which has been deployed since last November, is now returning to the US.
In his letter, Cao stated that five chaplains and multiple mental health professionals were available on board to address the "spiritual and emotional needs of the crew." He clarified that the eight individuals included "the Lincoln crew and sailors from the carrier airwing, strike group and destroyer squadron staff, escorting destroyers and all embarked aviation squadrons."
While the US Navy had previously acknowledged supply challenges on the carrier, it denied that a mental health crisis was occurring on the Lincoln, which had approximately 5,000 crew members aboard. Cao's letter also refuted widespread concerns about broken plumbing and shortages of fresh food, though he acknowledged temporary "localized piping failures" and issues with the reverse osmosis desalination units. He also noted that "main entree options" at meals were reduced from two to one for a "short time."
In August, the USS George Washington was sent to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln after its nine-month deployment.