Posted on 09/24/2019 11:17:00 AM PDT by ransomnote
Three Navy sailors assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier killed themselves last week in separate incidents, officials said Monday.
The commanding officer of the carrier, which is docked at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia, announced the deaths in a post on the ship’s Facebook page Monday.
“It is with a heavy heart that I can confirm the loss of three Sailors last week in separate, unrelated incidents from apparent suicide. My heart is broken,” Capt. Sean Bailey wrote in the announcement.
None of the deaths occurred on the carrier, which is docked at the shipyard for repairs, Navy Times reported.
The crew members who killed themselves last week are the third, fourth and fifth sailors assigned to the ship to commit suicide in a two-year period, Bailey added in his statement.
Bailey urged sailors on the carrier to come forward with suggestions on how to put an end to the string of suicides.
“We need All Hands to engage by bringing forward your suggestions and ideas for how we can work together to prevent another suicide,” he wrote in the post, adding: “I want to reiterate that there is never any stigma or repercussion from seeking help.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
The ship is in port for an extended period. What gives? Girlfriend / wife problems? The Navy life can be very tough on relationships.
How sad.
Three young, healthy guys.
This is very sad. But I am curious as to their back stories. Any of them LGBT? Any of them lost a promotion to a “protected class”? ETC
divorce and ruinous family court rulings would be my guess
That’s terrible.
Well, if they off’ed themselves, then not necessarily ‘healthy’. But sad that they felt that was their only way out.
“Norfolk Police began investigating the death of Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Robert John Bartulewicz III on July 16. His was the first suicide involving a Bush crew member since late 2017, Cragg said.
Last week, authorities in Norfolk and Portsmouth ruled three more deaths — one on Sept. 14, two on Sept. 19 — as suicides: Chief Electronics Technician (Nuclear) James Harold Shelton, Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Vincent Michael Forline and Airman Ethan Thomas Lee Stuart.”
Incredibly sad and spoofy at the same time.
Did they know something they shouldn’t? About a gang on the ship? Drug sales?
(now removing tin foil hat...)
Could be some faggotry afoot.
Yes it can.
So 2 from Engineering functions and 2 that would typically be from the airwing. Each with 1 more senior and 1 more junior enlisted.
Will be a huge investigation into this and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the CO or corresponding Division Officers/Department Heads relieved as a precautionary measure pending the outcome.
Despite what the CO says there was always significant stigma associated with Psych related stuff. At any hint of issues people were removed and past medical history was looked at for promotions (at least in the officer corps). Course that was back in the 90s...
Sleep deprivation can really depress a person. During a refueling overhaul I was in 102 hour weeks were the norm for Engineering during the last half or so of the overhaul. Seems endless. It really wears you down.
You’d be surprised... there are gang affiliations within the military. I served for 20 years and can tell you first hand that the Bloods and Crips were active in the Navy in the 90s. Now, whether or not these guys were really Bloods or Crips or if they were simply identifying as such because it was cool at the time... couldn’t tell you. We did have a couple of guys steal a couple of pistols from the armory and rob a store with them though. Unfortunately from them, the PM Check on 9mm pistols with those particular lot numbers came up before they returned the guns and that is when the investigation started. Brig time for both of them... one got 10 years and the other was awarded 7 years.
Heck...one was a 1st Class P.O. The other was a Chief!
They weren’t newbie squids.
As a BT, I remember putting in a couple 24 straight hour shifts repairing boilers that could potentially hold up our ships evolution. Miserable is all I can find to describe it. Pure misery.
Also, I remember how many marriages broke up in my division alone. (Engineering)
The Navy is not kind to any marriage.
https://navaltoday.com/2019/02/22/uss-george-h-w-bush-dry-docks-for-2-5-year-overhaul/
The US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) has arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) where it will spend the next 28 months, undergoing planned maintenance.
My guess is untreated/undiagnosed severe depression. I have enough friends, who have served and/or are currently serving to have heard the stories, and how there is still a real stigma about it.
...Yet I *STILL* come across people, who will sneeringly tell you that depression is just as real as the vapours, and it’s (apparently) just a synonym for ‘lazy, selfish and immature’...
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