Military families have confronted senior US Navy leaders about concerns with the mental health and living conditions of sailors and Marines aboard the USS Lincoln as its deployment during the US war on Iran continues without a confirmed return date, according to an MS NOW.
About 200 family members attended a meeting on Thursday night in San Diego with acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, seeking answers about the prolonged deployment and conditions facing 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the carrier, said the US channel reported on Friday.
"Tensions boiled over again during a separate virtual meeting later that night between Navy leadership and family members of the 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the Lincoln," MS NOW said, citing audio and video recordings of the virtual meeting it possesses.
Families raised concerns about exhaustion, mental health support, food shortages, water contamination, bathroom problems, safety and disruptions to mail deliveries.
Cao said the Navy is preparing the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group for a Middle East deployment that would eventually relieve the Lincoln, but he did not provide a date, citing operational security.
The Lincoln had been deployed for 259 days as of Friday after leaving San Diego on Nov. 21. It had made only two stops during that period, including a brief visit to Oman on July 7, leaving the crew at sea for 208 consecutive days, according to MS NOW.
Mental health and supply disruptions
Families expressed frustration as their loved ones missed major milestones, including the births of children and funerals of close relatives.
One spouse said they have a baby at home who was born during the Lincoln’s deployment.
"My husband has gotten no time with her."
Vice Admiral Joseph Cahill said the Navy understood the strain on sailors and their families.
"We hear you loud and clear, the impact this has on families, on service members, and the long-term ability of us to stand, sustain our forces’ health," said Cahill.
Officials said mental health support includes deployment-resilience counselors, chaplains and Human Factors Councils aimed at identifying risks affecting service members' well-being.
Families also questioned conditions aboard the carrier, including broken toilets and suspected mold in showers. Navy leaders said a "stubborn clog" had affected toilets in one area and that suspected mold could instead be mildew caused by ventilation problems.
Supply disruptions have affected food, personal-care products, and mail. Vice Admiral Douglas Verissimo said logistics difficulties involving Bahrain created major backlogs after fighting began, forcing the Navy to prioritize food deliveries.
"We’re doing a better job with supplies and mail. It’s getting better; it’s still not good, and it was extremely bad for a little while," he said.
"But we are, we are as a nation doing the best we can."
