Eight Sailors From USS Lincoln Strike Group Attempt Suicide During Deployment
WHO:
CBS News - Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao
CBS News - Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York
CNN - U.S. Navy personnel assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group
WHAT:
CBS News - Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao stated that the eight suicide attempts included sailors from the Lincoln aircraft carrier, its air wing, and the escorting destroyers.
CBS News - The letter from Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed that the eight suicide attempts occurred during the Lincoln's 10-month deployment.
CBS News - A defense official noted that two of the suicide attempts occurred during active fighting with Iran.
CBS News - The Lincoln and its thousands of crew members have been deployed for more than nine months, including more than 250 uninterrupted days at sea this year.
CBS News - The Lincoln left the Middle East late last month after it was relieved by the USS George Washington.
CBS News - The carrier arrived in Guam earlier this week, as it sails in the direction of its home port of San Diego.
CBS News - Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao stated that the letter confirming the eight suicide attempts was sent on a Tuesday.
CBS News - The USS Abraham Lincoln was relieved of its duties in the Middle East by the USS George Washington.
CBS News - The USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in Guam earlier this week as it sails towards its home port of San Diego.
CBS News - The exact schedule and plans for the Lincoln's return to its home port are classified, according to Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao.
CBS News - Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao stated in a letter that the eight suicide attempts included sailors from the Lincoln aircraft carrier, its air wing, and the escorting destroyers.
CNN - The letter from Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed that the eight suicide attempts occurred during the Lincoln's 10-month deployment.
CNN - A Navy official noted that the rate of suicide attempts among the Lincoln strike group’s sailors was roughly consistent with the entire active duty Navy in 2024, which had 356 suicide attempts among approximately 337,000 active duty sailors.
CBS News - Two of the suicide attempts occurred during active fighting with Iran.
CBS News - The USS Abraham Lincoln faced reports of food shortages, supply issues, and faulty plumbing during its deployment.
CBS News - The Lincoln's deployment lasted for more than nine months, including over 250 uninterrupted days at sea.
CNN - The Lincoln set a modern record for its time at sea during this deployment.
CNN - A sailor assigned to the airwing went overboard in early August and was quickly recovered and treated by the Lincoln’s medical department.
CNN - One sailor attempted to go overboard in March and was stopped by shipmates, receiving immediate medical care afterward.
CBS News - Eight suicide attempts have been reported across the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group during its deployment.
CNN - No suicides have occurred onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during the deployment.
CNN - The USS Abraham Lincoln strike group faced over 250 uninterrupted days at sea this year.
CNN - The Navy reported that the rate of suicide attempts among the Lincoln strike group’s sailors was consistent with the entire active duty Navy in 2024, which had 356 suicide attempts among approximately 337,000 active duty sailors.
CNN - The Lincoln strike group included between 6,000 and 7,000 sailors across roughly six ships.
WHERE:
CBS News - The USS Abraham Lincoln docked in Thailand in early September and arrived in Guam earlier this week.
CBS News - The USS Abraham Lincoln was deployed in the Middle East.
CBS News - The USS Abraham Lincoln docked in Thailand and arrived in Guam.
WHEN:
CBS News - The deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln began in November of the previous year.
CNN - The Lincoln was relieved of its duties in the Middle East late last month.
CNN - A sailor assigned to the airwing went overboard in early August but was quickly recovered.
WHY:
CBS News - Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stated, "What Trump and Secretary Hegseth dismissed as 'fake news' turned out to be serious and deteriorating conditions for our service members."
CBS News - The deployment was described as grueling, with reports of food shortages, supply issues, and deteriorating mental health among crew members.
CNN - The strain of combat operations was noted to be much higher than normal deployments, contributing to the mental health challenges faced by sailors.
HOW:
CBS News - The Navy deployed the Lincoln with various mental health resources onboard, including five chaplains, one embedded integrated prevention counselor, one psychologist, one clinical social worker, three behavioral health technicians, and one expeditionary facility dog.
CBS News - In a video posted to X, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao addressed mental health, stating, "We must confront the rising tide of suicide head-on." His wife, April, also appeared in the video encouraging people to speak up about challenges.
CNN - The Lincoln deployed with various mental health resources onboard, including five chaplains, one embedded integrated prevention counselor, one psychologist, one clinical social worker, three behavioral health technicians, and one expeditionary facility dog.
CNN - The Lincoln deployed with various mental health resources, including five chaplains, one embedded integrated prevention counselor, one psychologist, one clinical social worker, three behavioral health technicians, and one expeditionary facility dog.
CBS News - The Navy has stated that personnel have access to counselors, chaplains, and other support.
(UPDATED September 24, 2026 13:59 UTC)
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao has confirmed that there were eight suicide attempts involving sailors from the Lincoln aircraft carrier, its air wing, and the escorting destroyers during the ship's ten-month deployment. Notably, two of these attempts occurred while the crew was engaged in active fighting with Iran, and the Lincoln has been at sea for more than 250 uninterrupted days this year. To support the crew's mental health, the Navy deployed various resources onboard, including five chaplains, a psychologist, and even an expeditionary facility dog.
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(UPDATED September 24, 2026 13:04 UTC)
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed that a letter detailing eight suicide attempts was sent on a Tuesday, emphasizing the need to confront mental health issues head-on in a video posted to X, where his wife, April, also encouraged open discussions about challenges. Meanwhile, the USS Abraham Lincoln has been relieved of its duties in the Middle East by the USS George Washington and arrived in Guam earlier this week as it heads toward its home port of San Diego. The exact schedule and plans for the Lincoln's return remain classified, according to Cao.
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(UPDATED September 24, 2026 03:59 UTC)
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao revealed in a letter that there were eight suicide attempts among sailors from the Lincoln aircraft carrier, its air wing, and escorting destroyers during the ship's 10-month deployment. A Navy official indicated that the rate of these attempts was roughly in line with the overall active duty Navy statistics, which reported 356 attempts among about 337,000 sailors in 2024. To support mental health, the Lincoln was equipped with various resources, including five chaplains, a psychologist, and even an expeditionary facility dog.
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(UPDATED September 24, 2026 03:01 UTC)
The USS Abraham Lincoln has set a modern record for its time at sea, completing over 250 uninterrupted days during a deployment that lasted more than nine months. Recently, the ship faced significant challenges, including food shortages, supply issues, and faulty plumbing, while two sailors attempted to go overboard during active fighting with Iran, one of whom was stopped by shipmates. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand highlighted these serious conditions, stating that what Trump and Secretary Hegseth dismissed as "fake news" turned out to be a deteriorating situation for our service members.
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(UPDATED September 24, 2026 01:23 UTC)
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao and Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York have addressed the concerning reports of eight suicide attempts among sailors in the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group during its lengthy deployment in the Middle East, which lasted over 250 days. Fortunately, no suicides occurred on board, and the Navy noted that the rate of suicide attempts among the Lincoln's crew was consistent with the overall active duty Navy statistics for 2024. The deployment was described as grueling, marked by food shortages and mental health challenges, despite the presence of various mental health resources, including counselors and chaplains, to support the approximately 6,000 to 7,000 sailors involved.