The New York Times and Stars and Stripes have reported that several attempts by soldiers to jump from the deck into the water have been recorded as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln’s mission has been prolonged.
The ship, with about 5,000 soldiers and marines, has entered its ninth month of mission, and reports say its crew has spent 250 consecutive days without coming ashore, an unprecedented figure for an aircraft carrier in modern times.
Families of the troops stationed on the ship have expressed concerns about the psychological stress and difficult conditions of the crew in a meeting with US Navy officials in San Diego.
According to reports, a family member said that his wife had sent a message describing her extremely poor mental state and expressed hope that she would not wake up the next day.
