Eight Sailors in Navy Strike Group Tried to Take Their Lives During Long Mission

Eight sailors serving in the naval strike group built around the giant warship USS Abraham Lincoln tried to take their lives while on an unusually long mission at sea. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao shared this detail in a letter dated September 22 to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand after the New York Democrat asked about the crew's well-being last month. While no sailors died by their own hand during the tour, the eight attempts involved crew members from the main carrier as well as attached air wings, destroyer squads, and support vessels. The massive ship left its home base in San Diego last November, reached West Asia in January to back operations involving Iran, and spent over 260 days without stopping at a port, setting a new record for continuous time at sea. Crew members faced severe stress, declining mental health, and shortages of basic items like food and personal hygiene supplies. President Donald Trump previously minimized reports about poor conditions on board, calling the nearly nine months away a normal stretch and pointing to a retired admiral who claimed naval vessels were kept in great shape. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also claimed reports about the ship's condition were totally false. Senator Gillibrand strongly criticized both leaders in a statement this week, accusing them of dismissing genuine hardships faced by service members and their families while funding military equipment and other projects. The warship and some accompanying vessels stopped in Thailand in early September for a break on their way back to California, though officials have not given an exact date for their final return.