Relatives of more than 5,000 personnel serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln voiced concern over problems on the aircraft carrier during its ongoing mission against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
Families said the carrier’s standard seven-month deployment appears to have been extended for a second time, with no indication of when the personnel will return home. Uncertainty over how long the military operation against Iran will continue has also heightened concerns.
Relatives said they feared extreme fatigue could cause personnel to make mistakes. According to the families, the ship is facing serious difficulties obtaining essential food and supplies, creating intense stress for the crew.
Bonnie York, whose stepson is serving aboard the carrier, said morale among the personnel was poor. York said the ship’s doctor or therapist had warned that the crew’s mental health could deteriorate if the personnel were unable to reach a port soon.
Some military families said the toilets aboard the ship were not working, mold was present in the showers and the laundry rooms had been unusable for weeks. They also said personnel had to wait for long periods to get hot water for showers.
The problems described by the families emerged as the USS Abraham Lincoln entered the ninth month of its deployment, following nearly five months of reported reciprocal attacks involving Iran.