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To the editor:  

Regarding the Aug. 5 news story “Moldy showers and no soap: Military families are outraged by conditions on USS Lincoln”: 

Priya Sridhar’s reporting raises two important questions: Do the Marines described in the article receive combat pay, and what rotation schedule applies during continuous deployment at sea? Those answers matter because compensation, relief and support shape how long deployments affect service members and their families. 

In 1967, I spent 90 days on ship duty in the Caribbean while serving in the Marines. At the time, Marine detachments were regularly afloat in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Enlisted Marines slept below decks in hammocks or cots, with no private space beyond their duffel bags. When we pulled into port every seven to 10 days, Marines were eager to go ashore, stretch their legs, breathe fresh air and call home. We had no phone service, and calling home from port was expensive. The difficult conditions weighed heavily on morale, including in one serious case that required a Marine to be sent back to Camp Lejeune for care.

That experience makes me wonder how Marines aboard the Lincoln are rotated and supported during extended deployments. In my day, Marines were allowed on deck only for physical training. Their few diversions were meals, an occasional movie and mail call, which became a major event whenever letters arrived. Tension sometimes surfaced between sailors and Marines, a reminder of how difficult extended shipboard duty could become.

Upon our return to Camp Lejeune, we resumed normal duties with no time to reconnect with our families after the deployment. I hope today’s Marines spending extended periods at sea receive clear support, fair compensation, regular opportunities to recover and timely access to care when they need it.