USS Lincoln personnel suicide crisis 2026
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Thousands welcome USS Lincoln sailors home after fraught deployment
The Lincoln spent 264 consecutive days at sea without a port call.
Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth sought to downplay the situation aboard the Lincoln.
The US navy confirmed that eight service members from the Lincoln and its accompanying strike group had attempted suicide since the start of the deployment.
USS Lincoln docks in San Diego after 10-month mission
Thousands of crew members were on board the USS Abraham Lincoln.
The USS Abraham Lincoln was supporting the US-Israel war with Iran during its deployment.
The USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment was one of the longest deployments ever recorded.
USS Abraham Lincoln completes record-setting deployment and returns home
A Pew Research Center poll released on Thursday found 65 percent of Americans disapproved of Trump's handling of the war, compared with 33 percent who approved.
President Donald Trump called the reporting about the USS Lincoln "fake news."
The longest total deployment was set earlier in 2026 when the USS Gerald R. Ford returned from a 326-day deployment.
USS Abraham Lincoln scheduled to return to San Diego after record deployment
The Lincoln left San Diego in November 2025, initially bound for the Pacific.
Hegseth told the crew that President Donald Trump "tracked your activities from day one and couldn't be more proud of what you executed."
The Lincoln spent 265 uninterrupted days at sea, a record-long deployment.
Hegseth tells USS Lincoln sailors controversial deployment 'wasn't easy'
The USS Theodore Roosevelt was recently dispatched to the Middle East.
Pete Hegseth told service members on the USS Abraham Lincoln that their deployment 'wasn't easy'.
The Lincoln was relieved from its deployment in August as the USS George Washington aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East to take its place.
Families await return of USS Abraham Lincoln
There are roughly 5,000 sailors and marines onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Adm Brad Cooper visited the Lincoln on 15 August.
Jefferson Kelley, whose son is onboard the Lincoln, wrote to his senator Bernie Moreno offering to take his son's place on the ship for the remainder of the deployment.
“I was trying to show that I am someone that is willing to do more than just sit at home and say somebody should do something or complain on social media,”
Navy reports 8 USS Abraham Lincoln sailors attempted suicide
Hung Cao wrote that the number of main entrée options during regular meal hours was reduced from two to one for a short time.
President Donald Trump said in August that the Lincoln was being beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of.
Families of sailors reported food shortages and sanitation problems on the Lincoln.
“Earlier in deployment, the ship experienced localized piping failures and temporary issues with its reverse osmosis desalination units due to high-ambient seawater temperatures and continuous operations,”
Eight USS Lincoln personnel have attempted suicide, US Navy confirms
Pete Hegseth said news outlets had "completely misrepresented" the situation onboard the Lincoln.
Cao said four nutritionally balanced meals were served daily.
The crew of the Lincoln was at sea for 286 days.
“Our troops and their families make immense sacrifices every single day, yet the president dismissed them with open disrespect. That this administration can find endless taxpayer dollars for bombs, ballrooms, and billionaires, but cannot take care of our service members, is completely unacceptable.”
Eight USS Abraham Lincoln sailors attempted suicide
The USS Abraham Lincoln had some 5,000 crew aboard.
Hung Cao said there were five chaplains and multiple mental health professionals available on board the carrier.
Hung Cao's letter acknowledged temporary "localized piping failures" and problems with reverse osmosis desalination units on the carrier.
8 USS Lincoln sailors attempted suicide, acting Navy secretary says
The 356 suicide attempts in 2024 represent a nearly 50% increase in attempted suicides over three years.
The USS Lincoln had between 2,500 and 2,800 sailors aboard throughout the deployment.
Eight U.S. Navy personnel attached to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group have attempted suicide since the start of their deployment.
US Navy confirms suicide attempts on USS Lincoln
No service members died by suicide during the USS Abraham Lincoln deployment.
One sailor assigned to the air wing jumped overboard in early August and was recovered, treated, and transferred off ship for follow-on care.
The Pentagon fired the Stars and Stripes editor-in-chief and its Middle East reporter last month following reporting on conditions aboard the carrier.
“Our troops and their families make immense sacrifices every single day, yet the president dismissed them with open disrespect. That this administration can find endless taxpayer dollars for bombs, ballrooms, and billionaires, but cannot take care of our service members, is completely unacceptable.”