Father of Service Member Deployed on USS Abraham Tells CNN His Daughter’s Given ‘Positive Feedback’ Despite Nightmare Reports

The father of a U.S. service member deployed on the USS Abraham Lincoln told CNN he’s heard “pretty positive feedback” from his daughter despite nightmare reports about the conditions on the ship and mental shape of those aboard.

CNN’s Pamela Brown spoke with the father, who was not identified by CNN in the segment, on Friday as the USS Abraham continues its deployment in the North Arabian Sea, supporting operations in Iran.

The father said:

Well, all of us parents miss our children very much. And I know we’re all very proud of them. As far as my particular child, I’ve heard pretty positive feedback about the conditions there. Although I noticed the sailor saying the work is repetitive. That is something that we hear a lot, and we understand that they’re under a lot of mental stress and have nothing but sympathy and respect for the hardships and the stress that are inherent to the operation that they’re conducting right now.

Brown honed in on the “positive feedback” and noted there are thousands of service members aboard the vessel, many of whom are likely responding very differently to their circumstances. The USS Abraham’s deployment was scheduled to end in May, but that deployment has been extended amid the Iran war. They have spent well over 200 consecutive days at sea.

The dad told Brown:

Well, in some circumstances, they form friendships. They form camaraderie. Food quality apparently has gone up and down. And I understand that’s to be expected when you’re in a combat situation. I think there’s a realization of the enormity of the operation they’re conducting and I think that really got driven home when they got deployed. And so as they have time to digest that and go through the day to day work, I think it’s created some appreciation to the people around them and forming those human connections. And also, once again, the enormity of the world around.

He said his child is “proud,” but is ready for some “relief.”

“All of us as parents have some questions about the length of time that it’s taken and the distribution of military assets. Obviously, humbly, I cannot speak to that because I don’t know anything about it. But we would love to see a situation where relief can come in a timely fashion, and sailors can have rest and relief and, and put their feet on the ground and go on land and see a little bit of the world. So that’s been concerning,” he said.

Navy spokesperson Ferry Gene Baylon told Mediaite in a statement that “supply hubs” were briefly disrupted for service members due to “combat operations.”

“Lincoln is operating in a highly contested environment where traditional supply hubs in the Middle East were disrupted by combat actions. In response, leadership prioritized mission-critical supplies: first food, then hygiene items, then mail. Current reports from the ship confirm continuous access to clean water, functional AC, and healthy meal options,” the spokesperson said.

Families of service members deployed on the ship complained to Navy officials last week about the eight-month deployment and shared complaints from the ship, including clogged toilets, mildew in the showers, food supply issues, and mental health concerns, according to MS NOW.

The wife of a 19-year-old sailor who jumped overboard has also accused the Navy of keeping her in the dark about the situation.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth responded to reports of trouble on the USS Abraham this week, accusing the media of “completely” misrepresenting the situation.

“As someone who’s not been on a ship like that but been on long deployments, I feel it. I want them home as soon as everybody else, too. I want folks rotated as quickly as possible. I want the best for them. My commanders know that, our service secretaries know that. The president expects that,” he said.

US CENTCOM also fired back at what it called “rampant misreporting” on the USS Abraham in a statement on Friday.

Watch above via CNN.

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