OAN Staff Addie Davis
8:03 AM – Monday, August 17, 2026
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Brad Cooper praised the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed in the Middle East for months amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Cooper, who said he was aboard the aircraft carrier on Saturday, recognized that long deployments can bring unique challenges, though he asserted that cases related to mental health issues are comparatively low on the carrier.
“My time aboard USS Abraham Lincoln yesterday was awe-inspiring. I wish Every American could see the crew in action. You would beam with absolute pride when witnessing their camaraderie, teamwork and resilience,” he said in a Sunday statement posted to social media.
“Here’s an important fact: Of the U.S. Navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers, the Lincoln currently has among the lowest number of cases related to mental health,” he continued.
His statement follows reports of mental health concerns, including suicidal ideation, among the sailors and deteriorating ship conditions.
Families of crew members have raised concerns about these mental health issues, and there is at least one report of a sailor attempting to jump overboard, according to some media reports.
On Thursday, CENTOM denied several claims of mental health-related issues aboard the Lincoln, pointing to the more than 84% reenlistment rate for the ship, the highest of any in aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy.
“Over the past 48 hours, multiple media outlets have reported several false claims related to USS Abraham Lincoln’s (CVN 72) deployment to the Middle East. One report alleged seven Sailors died in a brawl aboard the aircraft carrier and others have recently suggested a spike in suicidal ideations. These reports are FALSE,” the command stated.
“No service members aboard the aircraft carrier have died, and the one Sailor who fell overboard on Aug. 3 was quickly and safely recovered,” CENTCOM continued. “The rampant misreporting on Abraham Lincoln’s historic deployment is a disservice to our men and women in uniform and their loved ones.”
On Sunday, Cooper said that mental health remains a priority for the carrier’s leadership even as he recognized the difficulties of lengthy deployments.
“This doesn’t mean that all is perfect. Find any of the nearly 4 million Navy veterans in America today and they will likely tell you that service at sea for long periods isn’t for everyone. It is uniquely challenging and tough, and every single one of us, including me, reacts to stressors in different ways,” Cooper said.
“I’ve long believed that mental health is another aspect of individual health and requires our attention just like physical health and spiritual health. I applaud Lincoln’s leadership — the senior enlisted leaders in the Chief Petty Officers Mess in particular — for stepping up and making mental health and crew resilience a leadership priority,” he continued.
He further pointed to an end to the months-long deployment for the ship and its crew.
“To all our Sailors and Marines aboard the ship, keep up the great work and fair winds and following seas on the journey home,” he concluded.
After its initial deployment, the USS Abraham Lincoln was reportedly redirected to the Middle East and its deployment was extended in support of operations related to the ongoing conflict.
According to a Friday statement from Acting Secretary of the U.S. Navy Hung Cao, the ship has been deployed for 266 days, including 200 days in a combat zone. The ship has reportedly not had a port stop for months.
Cao noted that a “small number of mental health cases were treated with no loss of life.” He also addressed the meal situation, saying that plans were adjusted based on supply issues “without a single meal being missed,” and he explained that crew calls to home were limited due to the high “operational threat.”
Per media reports, the USS Washington, which has been in the South China Sea, is set to relieve the carrier, though the military has not released the date for the Lincoln’s return to its home port in San Diego, California.
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