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Sailors Reveal Nightmare Conditions Aboard Trump Warship
The Daily Beast • • nation
Key Points:
- The USS Abraham Lincoln completed a record-setting 286-day deployment, including around 200 days in an active war zone, before making port in Thailand; sailors described the mission as punishing and mentally taxing due to its indefinite length.
- Crew members reported rationing of food supplies and limited communication options, with no Wi-Fi for most of the deployment and only secure email access on the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., contributing to feelings of loneliness and frustration.
- Mental health concerns arose from extended 12-hour shifts, cramped conditions, and uncertainty, prompting sailors to organize morale-boosting activities such as spelling bees and lip-sync competitions.
- Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao acknowledged challenges including supply rationing, limited calls home, and mental health issues, emphasizing the difficulties of warfighting and confirming that no meals were missed despite adjustments during resupply shortages.
- Despite hardships, sailors expressed pride in completing the deployment and noted that the experience strengthened camaraderie among the crew, even as the ship's non-slip deck coating deteriorated due to prolonged use without maintenance.
