According to a letter obtained by CBS News, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao revealed that there have been eight suicide attempts among members of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group since the commencement of its demanding deployment last year. The correspondence was written in response to inquiries from Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.
Cao specified that the incidents involved personnel assigned to the Lincoln aircraft carrier, its accompanying air wing, and the escorting destroyers. However, he noted that no suicides have occurred onboard the vessels. A defense official informed CBS News that two of these attempts took place during active combat operations with Iran.
The Lincoln has been at sea for more than nine months, including over 250 continuous days this year alone. A significant portion of the deployment was spent in the Middle East supporting U.S. military operations against Iran. During this record-setting duration, the carrier group encountered reports of supply shortages, food issues, and plumbing failures, which drew criticism from congressional Democrats.
Family members of the crew had previously voiced concerns regarding the declining mental health of sailors and Marines, allegations that were initially dismissed by the Trump administration and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as “fake news.”
In a statement on Wednesday, Senator Gillibrand addressed the findings, saying, “What Trump and Secretary Hegseth dismissed as ‘fake news’ turned out to be serious and deteriorating conditions for our service members.”
The Pentagon has maintained that living conditions on the ship remain adequate and that there has been no spike in suicide attempts, asserting that crew members have access to counselors and chaplains. When asked for comment, the Navy directed CBS News to a weekend video posted by Cao on X, where the acting secretary emphasized the need to “confront the rising tide of suicide head-on.” His wife, April, also appeared in the video to encourage open dialogue about mental health challenges.
The carrier strike group departed the Middle East late last month after being relieved by the USS George Washington. It made a stop in Thailand in early September before arriving in Guam earlier this week. The group is currently en route toward its home port in San Diego, though Cao confirmed to Gillibrand that specific return schedules remain classified.
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Supply shortages and plumbing failures plus combat stress is a dangerous recipe. They needed help way before eight attempts.
I’m curious if the two attempts during active combat had different support protocols than the others. What resources were available then?
So the administration finally admitted it after families screamed for years? Glad it’s out, but why did it take this long?
Eight attempts on one ship is staggering. The mental toll of prolonged combat must be unimaginable for these sailors.