Navy Moves to Discipline Sailor After Suicide Attempt on Carrier

On Aug. 3, a 19-year-old sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln jumped into the sea, later describing the deployment as overwhelming in texts to his wife. After an hour in the water he was rescued, treated at Naval Medical Center San Diego for five days, and instructed to return to work immediately. The Navy has filed charges alleging he faked illness to avoid duty and was absent without leave, seeking non-judicial punishment rather than a court-martial.

The sailor had previously asked for paternity leave and sought mental-health assistance, which he says was denied. A commanding officer will determine the final sanction, potentially cutting half of his pay. The carrier is now returning to San Diego after a nine-month deployment.