The USS Lincoln - Poster of the Week
Combat Rations
Mark Pinto; Koji Pinto; Iraq Veterans Against the War; Repetitive Press
Silkscreen, 2014
Toronto, Canada
53324
The crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln is in crisis. The 5,000 Navy sailors and marines aboard the aircraft carrier have endured a record-breaking 250+ day non-stop deployment at sea due to the endless war with Iran. Horrific conditions and a lack of mental health support, have caused many sailors to attempt suicide. Crew members have described: “moldy showers, broken toilets, laundry down for weeks, long stretches with no hot water, a meal that came down to half a cup of rice and two tortillas. No soap, deodorant, or toothpaste.” Families of the sailors reported that those on the USS Lincoln are becoming “emaciated,” having lost up to 30 pounds. To make matters worse, the USS Lincoln only has a single psychiatrist for 5,000 sailors, leading to 5-week waiting periods. Even on normal deployments, Navy sailors experience uniquely high occupational stress and poor mental health as a result of constant loud noise, lack of sleep, and minimal resources for mental and physical health.
Although President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth keep dismissing the reports as “fake news,” the USS George Washington was recently deployed to replace the Lincoln.
This week, news broke that another naval vessel–the USS Benfold–spent four days last month without power in the South China Sea. The crew endured four days without working toilets, galley (food) services, potable water, or air conditioning in 90° heat.
The mistreatment of members of the armed forces is neither new nor a secret. CSPG’s Poster of the Week documents an earlier example of abuse against members of the armed forces. During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, 43% of combat troops were sent back into war, even with PTSD diagnoses. By the end of the Iraq War in 2011, 20-50% of all service members were suffering from PTSD, and one third experienced traumatic brain injuries. Between 2006-2021, suicide was the number two cause of death for active-duty military (25.4% of all deaths), behind only accidental deaths (32%).
War is Hell for everyone but the warmakers.
Protect civilians! Protect soldiers and sailors! No more U.S. war machine!
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide,
support is there.
For US residents, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
For the Veterans Crisis Line: call 988, then press 1 or text 838255
Resources:
If you are a member of the military seeking peer or legal support due to concerns, fill out this secure form.
If you are a veteran of a post-9/11 war seeking solidarity, consider joining About Face.
References:
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