The Hell of the 'Lincoln': 250 Days at Sea and Sailors Trying to Jump to Their Deaths

A severe mental health crisis is hitting the crew of the American aircraft carrier 'Abraham Lincoln', which has been at sea for 250 consecutive days. According to a report in The Guardian, several sailors have attempted to jump from the deck to their deaths. Families of the servicemen are furious about the poor living conditions, and Congressman Mike Levin attacked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who called the claims 'fake news'. The Navy claims there has been no increase in reports of suicidal thoughts.

A severe mental health crisis is hitting the crew of the American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The sailors on board have been at sea for 250 consecutive days without docking, a modern record for the U.S. Navy. Following the war with Iran, 5,000 sailors and Marines have been in the middle of the ocean for the ninth month, and the operational pressure is taking its toll: several sailors have attempted to jump from the deck to their deaths, according to a report by the British newspaper The Guardian, which relies in part on reports from Navy Times, Stars and Stripes, and the network MS Now. In a tense meeting held in San Diego with Navy leadership, families of the servicemen expressed their anger and despair. One partner said her husband texted her that day that he 'hopes he won't wake up tomorrow'. Another sailor's wife described how her husband had to physically restrain a crewmate who tried to jump into the sea, catching him just before he plunged into the water. Family members confronted the acting Secretary of the Navy, Hung Cao, saying that trust between the fighters and the leadership had been broken. The dire situation on the ship is not limited to mental pressure. Democratic Congressman Mike Levin warned of the appalling living conditions on the ship, including moldy showers, broken toilets, lack of hot water, and particularly meager combat rations that included half a cup of rice and two tortillas. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth quickly dismissed the claims, calling them 'fake news'. Levin did not stay silent and replied: 'The minimum the country owes them is hot water and working toilets. Hegseth can't even manage that, and he has the audacity to call families liars.' The current crisis has been brewing for months. The Lincoln left San Diego in November, and except for a few days on land in Guam and Oman, it has been in a continuous operational cycle that has been extended again and again. An official in the U.S. Navy told The Guardian that they are aware of the heavy load, but claimed that 'no increase in reports of suicidal thoughts has been identified'. The official added that despite supply disruptions, the crew receives clean water, air conditioning, and close mental health support. However, a recent study shows that half of Navy sailors feel they are not receiving adequate help in coping with stress at sea.