Seven sailors who were assigned to the USS George Washington were found dead in a crisis that engulfed the US Navy last year.
Three were found dead a week earlier this month.
Class 3 retailer Michael Sharpe was found dead outside the base in Portsmouth, Virginia, on April 9.
His mother, Natalie Jefferson, said he was “the life of the party.”
She told NBC: “I would never have thought I would hit home so close.”
He followed in her great-grandfather’s footsteps by joining the Navy.
Jefferson revealed that he plans to buy a house and start a family.
A day later, third-class electrical communications engineer Natasha Huffman, 23, was found dead in Hampton, Virginia.
Her mother, Kathleen Krul, said: “She had a heart of gold and always stood up for the outsider.
Huffman’s grieving friend Will Maher called his partner his “best friend and soulmate.”
In an emotional post, he said: “I don’t think Tasha realized how much life has touched her.
3rd Class Internal Communications Electrician Natasha Huffman, 23, was found dead in Hampton, Virginia a day later. Facebook / Raymond Harrington
Forensic experts have confirmed that Sharpe and Huffman have committed suicide.
Doctors found Xavier Hunter Mitchell-Sandor, a rookie, without reacting days later.
He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead on April 15.
According to USNI News, he enlisted in the Navy in August after training in San Antonio, Texas.
His death is believed to be an apparent suicide.
Navy officials said the deaths did not appear to be related, but the investigation was being carried out by officials.
SEA TRAGEDY
Four deaths were reported in 2021.
Lt Cmdr. Robert Myers, of the Atlantic Navy, said: “We can confirm a total of seven deaths of servicemen 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 as some incidents are still being investigated.”
USS George Washington is currently located in Newport News, undergoing a complete overhaul.
But the ship was moored in port in 2017.
Doctors found Xavier Hunter Mitchell-Sandor (left), a rookie who did not respond a few days later. Facebook / Xavier Sandor
Maintenance engineers were forced to make unexpected repairs, and the Covid-19 pandemic severely affected its schedule.
The ship must be able to sail for another 25 years after the repair is completed.
When the ship is at the dock, the conditions are considered to be tight.
One of the ship’s crew told NBC: “Looks like the Grand Fleet let us dry. Nobody cares. ”
The sailors told the Navy Times that they had to travel miles from their cars to the ship.
Some believe they have become “little more than famous paintbreakers.”
“GLORIOUS PAINT ARROWS”
An anonymous sailor told the outlet: “This is not a place for sailors for the first time, where they sell you all these things from a tenant and throw you on this ship, where things don’t even work.
Russell Smith, the senior officer, was questioned by sailors.
One reportedly asked about living conditions on board.
According to audio files heard from NBC, Smith apparently replied: “I think we could probably do better to manage your expectations coming here.
He added: “What you are not doing is sleeping in a foxhole, as a Marine can do.
USS George Washington is undergoing maintenance in Virginia and its repair schedule has been dropped from the course due to Covid and delays.Getty Images
“What you do is go home most nights.”
This is not the first crisis to shake the fleet, as three USS George HW Bush sailors died from suicide in September 2019.
James Shelton, chief electronics technician, aviator Ethan Stewart, and 1st Class Aviation Officer Vincent Forline were identified as the sailors.
They were found dead within days of each other.
Captain Sean Bailey, the ship’s commander, confirmed the death with a “heavy heart” online.
This is not the first crisis to shake the fleet, as three sailors assigned to the USS George HW Bush died from suicide in September 2019. Hum Images / Universal Images Grou
He said: “Now is the time to come together as a team and as a family to grieve, support each other and care for those in need.
“We need all hands to get involved, presenting your suggestions and ideas on how we can work together to prevent another suicide. I want to reiterate that there is never a stigma or the consequences of seeking help. “
Data from the Ministry of Defense from 2020 revealed that 580 servicemen died from suicide – 16% more than in 2019.
This story originally appeared in The Sun and is reproduced here with permission.
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