Sailors on USS Abraham Lincoln Reportedly Take Desperate Measures Amid Months-Long Deployment and Poor Conditions

File photo, Anat Givon/AP Photo

Sailors on the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln have begun jumping overboard amid a months-long deployment and reportedly poor conditions, according to a report.

More than 5,000 sailors and Marines have been deployed on the Lincoln since Nov. 21.

The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has been in the North Arabian Sea, supporting the United States operations against Iran, a conflict which began Feb. 28 and has shown no signs of stopping.

Families complained at a meeting with Navy officials last week of the more than eight-month deployment and deteriorating conditions on the ship, noting clogged toilets, mildew in the showers, food supply issues and serious mental health concerns for those aboard, according to MS NOW.

One parent claimed their daughter thought she would die on the ship, the outlet reported.

Now some sailors appear to be taking matters into their own hands.

One woman whose husband, a 13-year Navy veteran, attempted to leap overboard, says he’s now on a medical hold and frightened for the future.

“He’s scared,” Annabelle Loma told the Navy Times.

Her husband’s deployment had been extended numerous times, she told the outlet.

“He thinks he’ll get a dishonorable discharge, and just because he was burnt out, his 13-year career is ruined, just like that. That’s not fair, that’s not right. That’s not what he should be worrying about right now.”

Another spouse, Maria Rodriguez, said her husband managed to catch a fellow sailor before they could jump, pulling them back onto the deck and prompting three others to run to help.

“He said he hadn’t felt adrenaline like that in his life, and he was just so thankful he was able to get to [the sailor] in time, to stop them from going overboard,” Rodriguez told the Navy Times.

Other relatives voiced similar concerns, including high schooler Shelby Sanders, whose mom has been serving on the Lincoln.

“When she can email me, she’s definitely down,” the youngster said. “I think they’ve had five weeks of non-stop combat operations or something like that, so that makes it really tough to communicate consistently or even know if we’ll be able to. It sucks.”

“I don’t know how to enjoy starting my senior year when my mom isn’t here, you know?” Sanders added.

“Will she be back before homecoming? My birthday? Christmas? I have no idea, and that’s all that I think about.”

Dad Manuel Guevara said his son has sounded exhausted during his deployment.

“I don’t want to worry that the circumstances of this deployment will get the best of my son, and he doesn’t make it back home,” Guevara said. “That’s an unbearable burden on my heart,” Guevara said.

The Navy declined to discuss any individual cases but insisted to Mediaite it has not found an increase in suicidal sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln.

“We know that extended deployments place a significant strain on our service members and their families, and we are grateful for the resilience and sacrifices they make in support of our nation’s security,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

“The health and well-being of every Sailor aboard Abraham Lincoln is a priority. Based on information available to the command, we have not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship,” the spokesperson added.

“We take every service member’s well-being seriously and have religious, medical and mental health professionals available to assess and address concerns as they arise. Lincoln is providing a comprehensive support network, including onboard deployment-resilience counselors, chaplains, Fleet and Family Support Center services, Military OneSource, and medical professionals.”

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