Hegseth praises sailors’ resilience after record-breaking carrier deployment
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WASHINGTON –
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Hegseth → praise → deployment
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth flew to the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Oct 7 and praised the resilience of sailors who endured an extended, wartime deployment that drew scrutiny over suicide attempts on board.
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that → fly → board
The Lincoln, which is due to dock on Oct 8 in San Diego, is the flagship of a carrier strike group that had eight suicide attempts among US sailors during its time at sea, according to the Navy.
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that → dock → Navy
Its deployment included 264 continuous days without a port call, a record, according to the Pentagon.
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deployment → include → Pentagon
Hegseth, whose speeches regularly target the media, accused reporters of trying to turn the crew of the Lincoln strike group into symbols of dysfunction instead of heroes of the conflict, and presented a citation from US President Donald Trump for their achievements during the Iran war.
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speeches → target → war
The Lincoln’s accomplishments included sinking 64 Iranian warships, destroying 21 anti-ship cruise missiles, executing 3,693 combat sorties, launching 450 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles and firing 1.37 million pounds of ordnance against Iran, Hegseth said.
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Hegseth → include → Iran
Despite the fast pace of combat operations, it suffered no casualties and had no aircraft mishaps, Hegseth said.
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Hegseth → suffer → mishaps
“What makes the US military and the US Navy and all these sailors different is that you adapt and that you’re resilient and you overcome – you finish the mission nonetheless,” Hegseth told the crew.
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Hegseth → make → crew
“Yes, it’s hard.
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it → ’ → ?
That’s why you’re here.
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you → ’ → ?
You do difficult and hard things.”
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You → do → things
Typically naval deployments are for between six and nine months but can be extended during times of conflict.
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deployments → extend → conflict
Mental health issues on long deployments have long challenged the US Navy.
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issues → challenge → Navy
In August, amid reports of low morale and supply shortages on board, Trump was asked whether he thought the Lincoln had been deployed too long.
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Lincoln → ask → board
Trump responded: “No, no, no.
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Trump → respond → ?
Hegseth acknowledged some challenges on board, saying “there wasn’t an easy resupply”.
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Hegseth → acknowledge → board
Ahead of the carrier’s return to port, Hegseth joked that he was “the only thing standing between you and home” and that he was also the one who signed the orders repeatedly extending the deployment.
“You deserve to see your families and see them as soon as possible,” Hegseth said, adding he just wanted to see them for “a moment on the route, on the way in, just to say thank you”.
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he → joke → you
The carrier’s return comes at a crossroads in the US-Iran war, which has jolted global energy markets and become a political liability for Trump and fellow Republicans ahead of November midterm elections.
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which → come → elections
The war – and its US$3 billion (S$3.8 billion) monthly price tag – has become a key issue on the campaign trail.
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war → become → trail
Higher energy prices have put Trump and Republicans on the defensive in competitive states that will decide control of Congress.
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that → put → Congress
Trump is weighing next steps against Iran, including whether to escalate strikes before or after the elections, as he presses a naval blockade meant to pile economic pressure on Tehran to reach a deal to end the conflict.
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he → weigh → conflict
Vice-President J.D. Vance told Reuters on Oct 5 that Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction in its uranium enrichment capacity to satisfy US demands and end the countries’ seven-month war.
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Iran → tell → war
Hegseth said the crew of the Lincoln had helped ensure the US’ objective of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
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crew → say → weapon
“You have changed the arc of history,” he told them on Oct 7.
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he → change → Oct
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