Eight sailors assigned to USS Lincoln attempted suicide, Navy Secretary tells Congress
The letter came in response to a letter from New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who called attention to the conditions aboard the aircraft carrier in August.
Eight sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide while on a record-breaking deployment, according to a letter from Navy Secretary Hung Cao. The deployment, which included the group's participation in the Iran war, involved between 6,000 and 7,000 service members. Cao stated that the number of attempted suicides was "incredibly high," attributing it to the strain of combat operations, such as continuous alerts and a lack of port calls.
No service members were reported to have committed suicide during the deployment. Mental health resources, including chaplains, counselors, psychologists, and behavioral health technicians, were available on board the Lincoln. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand had previously raised concerns about declining mental health and morale among the Lincoln's crew in August, but US officials denied these claims.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has since been replaced by the USS George Washington and is on its way back to the United States.
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Also reported by 4 other outlets
- Eight sailors assigned to US carrier strike group attempted suicide during deployment against Iran: Report middleeasteye.net
- Eight USS Lincoln personnel have attempted suicide, US navy confirms theguardian.com
- 8 attempted suicides by sailors in USS Lincoln strike group during deployment, navy letter says cbsnews.com
- 8 Sailors in U.S.S. Lincoln Strike Group Attempted Suicide, Navy Says nytimes.com
