U.S Navy Charges 19-Year-Old Sailor After Apparent Suicide Attempt Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln

A 19-year-old U.S. Navy sailor who went overboard from the USS Abraham Lincoln during an apparent suicide attempt is facing disciplinary action.

The incident happened on Aug. 3 during what his family described as a mental health crisis. He was rescued, received medical treatment and returned to San Diego on Aug. 13, his wife said.

USS Abraham Lincoln has spent more than 250 days at sea. The carrier’s deployment was extended several times after it was sent to the Middle East during the war with Iran.

The sailor, who is married and has two children, is accused of faking an illness or hurting himself to avoid work or duty. He also faces a separate allegation that he failed to report to his assigned duty station during the mental health crisis.

His wife has questioned why the Navy is pursuing disciplinary action instead of focusing on his mental health. She told MS NOW that punishing people who need mental health care could add to their stress.

Sailor faces Navy disciplinary hearing

The sailor is expected to face a captain’s mast, a Navy disciplinary hearing where a commanding officer can decide the punishment without a formal court-martial.

The military documents accuse him of violating Article 83 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which covers malingering. They also accuse him of violating Article 86, which covers failing to report for duty.

The case is being handled through non-judicial punishment. This is an internal military process generally used for lower-level misconduct and does not involve a formal court-martial or criminal conviction.

The documents say he could lose up to half of his pay.

His wife said he had asked several times for paternity leave so he could meet his newborn daughter. She said the requests were denied.

The couple are both 19 and have two children. Their daughter was born in February while he was deployed.

His wife also said he had spoken with his chain of command and medical staff several times about his mental health before the incident. She said he felt his concerns were not taken seriously.

Thirteen days before he went overboard, he sent his wife a message saying that the ship was becoming difficult for him. He also told her he did not think he could go through another deployment and was unsure whether he could finish the current one.

His wife said Navy officials did not contact her until four days after the incident. She first learned about it from one of his friends aboard the ship.

Wife raises questions about medical care

After returning to San Diego on Aug. 13, the sailor spent five days at Naval Medical Center San Diego, also known as Balboa, his wife said.

She said doctors monitored his vital signs but that he did not meet with a psychiatrist or therapist during his stay.

After he was released, his wife said he was ordered to return to work. His first therapy appointment was on Aug. 26, almost two weeks after he returned to San Diego.

Rep. Sara Jacobs, a California Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said she was concerned about the situation involving sailors and Marines serving aboard ships such as the Lincoln.

The Department of Defense said 471 service members died by suicide in 2024, compared with 531 in 2023.

Lincoln deployment extends beyond 250 days

The USS Abraham Lincoln left San Diego on Nov. 21, 2025. Its deployment was extended several times after the carrier was sent to the Middle East during the war with Iran.

During the long deployment, sailors and their families reported problems aboard the ship, including food shortages, no hot water for long periods, broken toilets, laundry issues and mould in showers.

The Navy has rejected some of these reports. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said accounts of severe conditions aboard the carrier were inaccurate. President Donald Trump has also dismissed concerns about the deployment’s length and conditions.

An Iranian attack destroyed a key supply hub in Bahrain, forcing supplies to be transported about 2,200 miles from Diego Garcia, according to the source material.

Navy sends mental health support

The Navy is sending more counsellors and social workers to the USS Abraham Lincoln.

The crew is also expected to get a rest-and-recovery stop in Thailand before the carrier eventually returns home.

The USS George Washington has been deployed from Japan to take over the Lincoln’s Middle East mission.

References: timesnownews, dailymail