Military families have confronted senior US Navy leaders regarding the mental health and living conditions of the 5,000 sailors and Marines serving aboard the USS Lincoln, which remains on a prolonged deployment in the Middle East without a confirmed return date. Approximately 200 family members attended a meeting in San Diego on Thursday night with acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to seek clarity on the ship's status and the conditions facing the crew.
Tensions reportedly escalated during a subsequent virtual meeting held later that night between Navy leadership and the families of the crew. According to audio and video recordings of the session, families raised significant concerns regarding exhaustion, inadequate mental health support, food shortages, water contamination, and malfunctioning bathroom facilities. Additionally, they highlighted safety issues and persistent disruptions to mail deliveries.
As of Friday, the USS Lincoln had been deployed for 259 days since departing San Diego on November 21. During this period, the vessel made only two stops, including a brief visit to Oman on July 7, which left the crew at sea for 208 consecutive days. Families expressed deep frustration as their loved ones missed major milestones, such as the births of children and funerals of close relatives. One spouse noted that their baby was born during the deployment and that the husband has had no time with the child.
Vice Admiral Joseph Cahill stated that the Navy understands the strain on service members 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," Cahill said. Officials noted that mental health support includes chaplains, deployment-resilience counselors, and Human Factors Councils designed to identify risks to personnel well-being.
Addressing shipboard conditions, Navy leaders responded to reports of broken toilets and suspected mold in showers. They explained that a "stubborn clog" had affected toilets in one area and suggested that the suspected mold might be mildew resulting from ventilation problems. Regarding supply issues, Vice Admiral Douglas Verissimo attributed the shortages of food, personal-care products, and mail to logistics difficulties in Bahrain following the start of fighting, which forced 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," Verissimo said. "But we are, we are as a nation doing the best we can."
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao stated that the Navy is preparing the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group for a Middle East deployment to eventually relieve the Lincoln, though he declined to provide a specific date, citing operational security.
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