Photo: Matthew D. Leistikow / Getty Images
Seven sailors assigned to the USS George Washington were found dead in a suicide crisis
which has seized the US Navy
Three were found dead in the space of a week earlier this month.
Service Specialist Third Class Mika’il Sharp was found dead outside the base in Portsmouth, Virginia on April 9.
“I never would have thought it would hit as close to home as this,” he told NBC his mother Natalie Jefferson.
A day later, Communications Electrician Third Class Natasha Huffman of 19 years old, was found dead in Hampton, Virginia.
His mother, Kathleen Krull, said, “He had a heart of gold and always stood up for the underdog.”
The forensic co They confirmed that Sharp and Huffman committed suicide.
Doctors found Xavier Hunter Mitchell -Sandor, a master-at-arms sailor conscript, unconscious days later.
He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead on 15 of April.
He had enlisted in the Navy in August after training in San Antonio, Texas. Death is believed to be an apparent suicide.
Navy officials said the deaths do not appear to be related, but officials are conducting an investigation.
Lieutenant Commander Robert Myers, Naval Air Force Atlantic, said: “We can confirm seven total deaths of service members assigned to the USS George Washington in the last 12 months: 4 in 2021 and 3 in 2022.
“The circumstances surrounding these incidents vary and it is premature to make assumptions, since some incidents are still under investigation.”
The USS George Washington is currently in Newport News undergoing a complex overhaul.
But, the ship docked at the port in 2017.
2022
The ing maintenance technicians have been forced to make unexpected repairs and the Covid-23 pandemic has severely affected their schedule .
The ship should be able to sail for another 25 years once repairs have been completed.
When the ship is in dock, conditions are believed to be narrow.
One of the ship’s crew told NBC, “Looks like Big Navy has left us outside to dry. Nobody cares.”
Sailors told the Navy Times that they have had to walk miles from their cars to the ship.
Some feel they have become “little more than glorified paint fillers”.
An anonymous sailor told the outlet: “It is not a place for first-time sailors, where a recruiter sells you all these things and you get thrown on this ship where things don’t even work.”
Russell Smith, who is the chief petty officer, was questioned by sailors.
According to reports, one asked about the living conditions on board.
According to audio files heard by NBC, Smith apparently replied, “I think we probably could have done better to handle your expectations coming here.”
He added : “What you are not doing is sleeping in a trench like a marine might.
“What you’re doing is going home at night, most nights.”
It is not the first crisis to shake the Navy, when three sailors assigned to the USS George HW Bush died by suicide in September 1200.
Chief Electronics Technician James Shelton, Airman Ethan Stuart, and Aviation Gunner 1st Class Vincent Forline were identified as the Sailors.
They were found dead days apart.
Captain Sean Bailey, the ship’s commanding officer, confirmed the deaths with a “heavy heart” in line.
“Now is the time to come together as a crew and as a family to grieve, support each other and care for those in need,” he said.
“We need all hands to partic ipen presenting their suggestions and ideas on how we can work together to prevent another suicide. I want to reiterate that there is never any stigma or repercussion for seeking help.” Department of Defense data from 2020 revealed that 580 soldiers have died by suicide, a 16 percent more than in 2019.