Eight US Navy personnel aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during its deployment against Iran, according to a newly revealed Navy letter.
The disclosure was made by Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao in written responses to questions from Senator Kirsten Gillibrand about crew morale and mental health.
Cao said no service members died by suicide during the deployment.
Eight Suicide Attempts Reported
Cao wrote that there were eight suicide attempts across the carrier strike group since the beginning of its deployment.
The figure includes personnel from the USS Abraham Lincoln, its carrier air wing, strike group staff and destroyer squadron.
It also covers sailors serving aboard escorting destroyers and embarked aviation squadrons.
Around 6,000 to 7,000 US Navy personnel were deployed across roughly six ships as part of the strike group.
Extended Combat Deployment Raises Concerns
The carrier remained at sea for more than six months while conducting combat operations against Iran.
A US military official told CNN that recent carrier strike group deployments had typically recorded one or two suicide attempts annually.
The official attributed the higher number during this deployment to the pressures of sustained combat operations, limited port visits and continuous alerts.
The disclosure has intensified attention on the mental health challenges faced by service members during extended combat deployments.
USS Abraham Lincoln Returns to Port
The USS Abraham Lincoln completed 286 days at sea before docking at Thailand’s Laem Chabang Port on September 2.
The Navy’s disclosure came as lawmakers continued seeking information about the prolonged deployment and its impact on personnel.
