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During the USS Lincoln’s difficult deployment, it was reported that several sailors attempted suicide. However, the rescued McKelvey was charged by the Navy with misconduct and absence from duty. His family members criticized the ship’s inadequate psychological care and unfair treatment.
us Navylincoln During a difficult deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, a total of eight sailors tried to commit suicide by jumping into the sea. One of them was literally punished later, and now he decided to speak out.
Quoted by the Capitol Hill newspaper on the 30thnew York Times According to reports, 19-year-old Nicholas McKelvey is an aviation machinery maintenance worker in a helicopter squadron. He said he was working on the flight deck in scorching heat, with each shift lasting up to 12 hours, and food supplies were limited. Not only did he miss the birth of his daughter, but his in-laws were also going to have a baby.cancer fight. On August 3, Lincoln’s 255th day of deployment, he finally couldn’t bear it anymore and jumped into the Arabian Sea.
U.S. Navy records reviewed by The New York Times show McKelvey was rescued by a helicopter crew after jumping into the sea and returned to the ship 50 minutes later. However, the incident report seems to cast doubt on his motive for jumping into the sea. One official admitted in the report that the deployment was “quite difficult”, so “it is not surprising that people jumped into the sea.” However, the officer also said that McKelvey’s “motive has not yet been determined” and “the circumstances when he jumped into the sea appear to be suspicious” as he was wearing a “float coat” that could have been used as a flotation device.
McKelvey said, “I didn’t want to be there anymore. If I was going to die from this, that was it.” “Obviously, I wanted to go home. I didn’t take off my buoyancy vest because if I wasn’t about to die, someone would be there to save me. But it didn’t matter. If I was destined to die, I would have. It’s that simple.”
The Navy took action to fire McKelvey on the 29th, accusing him of faking a mental health crisis in order to end his deployment early. This disposition would also disqualify them from receiving education benefits under the GI Bill of Rights. McKelvey and his wife, Samantha Larry, came forward and argued that they did not receive adequate mental health care before and after jumping into the ocean and that they were unfairly punished.
There are more than 5,000 military personnel at Lincoln, but only six mental health professionals. The New York Times reported that McKelvey said he went to the ship’s medical unit for mental health care in June, but he was asked to speak to the ship’s chaplain, but he refused to make the arrangement. “They don’t want to take responsibility for what happened to them and what happened to many other sailors on the ship. I don’t think they care,” Larry said.
According to charging documents reviewed by The New York Times, the Navy accused McKelvey of misconduct and “being absent without leave” for abandoning his job when he jumped overboard. Larry continued: “They care more about the image they project and how others see them. They don’t want anyone to see those bad things.”
Summary FAQ
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He was rescued after jumping into the Arabian Sea on the 255th day of his deployment. However, the Navy determined that he may have deliberately faked illness to avoid duty, and he faced dismissal and punishment. The outside world raised questions about whether the Navy ignored his psychological plight.
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The Navy accused him of misconduct, shirking duty and going off duty because he was away from his job when he jumped into the sea. If he is discharged from the military, he may lose his eligibility for education subsidies under the GI Bill.
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They believe there is not enough mental health manpower on board. McKelvey sought help but was referred to a priest and did not receive adequate care. Family members criticized the Navy for being overly concerned about its image but unwilling to take responsibility for the incident and the plight of other sailors.
