Families of US sailors denounce Trump and Hegseth for ‘dismissing their experiences and calling them liars’
www.theguardian.com
One US sailor’s mother asks: ‘My son signed up to serve his country. But why isn’t his country serving him?’

They spoke of insufficient nourishment that has led to close relatives losing 20-30lbs in weight since they were sent to the Middle East five months ago, leaving one sailor “emaciated”, according to his mother.

They spoke also of low-quality drinking water and scarce mental health counseling and support despite the intense burden of being at sea for months on end without making land.

The USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier with more than 5,000 sailors and marines onboard, has been at sea for nearly nine months, having begun its deployment in November. There have been reports of multiple suicide attempts including jumping overboard.

When Trump was asked on Friday whether naval families were worried about conditions on board, he replied: “No, they’re not.” He said that the Lincoln’s deployment, now in its ninth month, was “not nearly long enough”.

  • MirsheEnglish
    1·
    3 days ago

    One wonders if the worst sailors, the ones who said things publicly, are gonna get transferred to another ship to get Libertied. I can see Israel doing that again to help cover things up. I can also see us sinking our own destroyer or cruiser or supply ship off Cuba to justify THAT war. Two birds, one stone. A little tinfoil-y, but I’m long past putting much above this administration.

    • historicaldocumentsEnglish
      1·
      3 days ago

      I don’t see that happening. It’ll be like what happened with the Ford where it quietly goes into maintenance. Maybe the crew doesn’t get medals because of the attention they drew.