Eight sailors aboard USS Lincoln attempted suicide during extended deployment, Navy says

(NBC, KYMA) - Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao wrote, in a letter to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), eight sailors serving across the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group attempted suicide during the aircraft carrier's extended deployment supporting the war with Iran.

A U.S. Navy official confirmed to NBC News the validity of Acting Secretary Cao's letter.

According to the letter, obtained by NBC News, this number includes "the crew, and sailors from the carrier air wing, strike group and Destroyer Squadron staff, escorting destroyers, and all embarked Aviation Squadrons."

A Navy official said the letter was delivered to Sen. Gillibrand, a member of the Armed Services Committee, Tuesday.

There are about 7,500 service members, primarily sailors, as part of the strike group.

The ship, which supported the U.S. war with Iran, was at sea for nearly 300 days without a port call.

The length of the deployment, which some service members on board the carrier had described as extraordinarily tough, has raised concerns about supply shortages and the effect on sailors' mental health.

No deaths have been attributed to suicide during the deployment.

The letter also addressed Gillibrand's concerns about living conditions of the USS Lincoln and medical resources aboard the ship.

Gillibrand shared the following statement with NBC News:

"What [President Donald] Trump and [Defense Secretary Pete] hegseth dismissed as fake news' turned out to be serious and deteriorating conditions for our service members. Our troops and their families make immense sacrifices every single day, yet the president dismissed them with open disrespect. That this administration can find endless taxpayer dollars for bombs, ballrooms, and billionaires, but cannot take care of our service members, is completely unacceptable."

Last month, the USS George Washington was deployed to replace the Lincoln.