US Navy Sailors Voice How Difficult Working Conditions Aboard The Aircraft Carrier USS George Washington Resulted In A String Of Suicides

USS George Washington (CVN 73) (U.S. Navy/MC3 Ricardo R. Guzman)  

Navy Times: Navy sailors detail difficult working conditions after string of suicides 

The USS George Washington had at least five shipmates die by suicide in the last year. 

Sailors detailed their struggles and the working conditions onboard. 

As her one-year anniversary with the Navy approached last May, Hannah Crisostomo swallowed 196 pain relievers. Her organs shut down. Her brain swelled during multiple seizures and she stopped breathing. 

 She was on life support for eight days, during which time doctors had warned her family that she may never regain normal brain functions. When Crisostomo woke up, she immediately wondered why she was still alive. Her thoughts grew more despairing during the next few weeks in the hospital and then in the Navy’s psychiatric ward. 

“If they keep me in the Navy, and they put me back in the same situation, I’m going to kill myself,” she recalled thinking, “and I’m going to be successful the next time.”  

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Update #1: After Three Suicides on U.S. Carrier, Crewmembers Voice Concerns (Maritime Executive)  

Update #2: Navy investigating conditions after USS George Washington deaths; Luria presses for answers (Virginia Pilot)  

Update #3: Navy opening investigation after 7 deaths on USS George Washington (The Hill)  

WNU Editor: We are now learning that there has been seven suicides, not three as originally reported .... Navy acknowledges suicides of 7 sailors assigned to the USS George Washington (CBS). 

Update #4: What is this Navy officer thinking .... Top sailor to USS George Washington crew: at least you’re not in a foxhole (Navy Times). More here .... Navy's Top Enlisted Leader Tells George Washington Crew at Least They Aren't 'Sleeping in a Foxhole Like a Marine' (Military.com).