Last February, the United States began the war against Iran. But even before that, American warships had already been brought into the Gulf waters and stationed there. Although there is no war going on now, American ships have blockaded Iran to intensify the economic crisis against it, preventing any ship from entering or leaving Iran. As a result, U.S. Navy sailors are under severe mental stress, unable to return to their homeland or see their families.
250 days at sea
In particular, the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln has been circling the Gulf region for the past 9 months. It has continuously remained at sea for 250 days without coming ashore. There are about 5,000 sailors and naval personnel on the ship. Staying at sea continuously has been very difficult for them as well.
As a result, reports are emerging that sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have been jumping into the sea and attempting suicide.
They are under immense stress. Following this, the sailors’ family members have also become very worried. In a hall in San Diego, about 200 family members engaged in an argument with senior Navy officials over the escalating crisis on the aircraft carrier.
A woman told Navy Secretary Hung Cao that in a message sent by her husband, he had written, “I don’t think I’ll wake up tomorrow.” Another sailor’s family member accused Navy leadership of destroying the trust that military families once had.
Speaking about this, a woman named Annabel Loma said, “After being deployed multiple times, my husband tried to jump into the sea. He said he was tired and afraid that he might no longer be able to work properly. He is afraid that he will lose his job,” she noted. The wife of another sailor said that her husband had stopped a fellow crew member from jumping into the sea.
Abraham Lincoln departed from San Diego on November 21. It first headed toward the Pacific. But after the US-Israel war with Iran began, the ship was redirected to the Middle East. Since then, the sailors on board have had very little time ashore. More than 5,000 sailors and naval personnel have been allowed to go ashore for only two days.
There was a stop in Guam in December and another stop in Oman in July. Initially, it was said that this ship’s mission would end in May. Instead, because the war continues, it has been extended several times. The ship has been deployed in the war against Iran for the fifth month now. Allegations have also arisen that the ship is in very poor condition due to lack of maintenance. California Democratic Congressman Mike Levin noted that there are broken toilets, laundry being done for weeks on end, no hot water, food shortages such as half a cup of rice and two tortillas, and shortages of soap, deodorant, or toothpaste. As a result, pressure on the Trump administration is mounting.