A veteran who lost both legs has publicly criticized sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during a live segment on Fox News. His remarks came after reports emerged detailing complaints from military personnel regarding prolonged missions and inadequate food on the aircraft carrier stationed in the Middle East.
Joey Jones, a contributor to Fox News and a veteran of the Marine Corps, reacted strongly to the sailors’ grievances on Saturday. He labeled one sailor as a “whiner,” expressing that the sailor should feel ashamed to voice his complaints in front of a World War II veteran.
Jones stated, “If that ‘kid’ is representative of our military, we are in serious trouble.” His comments followed a report by CNN in which an unnamed sailor discussed poor morale and food shortages on the ship.
Low Morale and Poor Food Options
The sailor, interviewed on July 10, said, “I would say morale is pretty low, not just in the division but throughout the entire ship. Our rations are running low; at times, we eat only noodles mixed with tuna, and sometimes we get a hot dog.”
During the Fox News segment, Jones reacted with frustration. “What did you expect?” he exclaimed. “I ate noodles for six months in Afghanistan using a portable stove, and I was happy to have it because the alternative was an MRE or poorly cooked food by someone who was too incompetent to be given a weapon!”
He further criticized the sailor, asking, “How weak can you be? Complaining on TV about tuna and noodles?” He added that if the sailor felt overwhelmed, he could leave the military and join the ranks of those veterans who complain publicly.
About Joey Jones
Jones, who served eight years in the military with deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, sustained severe injuries in 2010 from an improvised explosive device, resulting in amputations above the knee on both legs.
He sarcastically expressed that he felt sorry the crew of the Abraham Lincoln might be “bored.” He emphasized, “If this is a representation of our military now, then we are in a position similar to Rome, waiting to burn down with nothing left.”
Concerns Aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln
Jones’s statements sparked a heated debate on social media, coinciding with growing concerns aboard the carrier regarding supply shortages, deteriorating mental health among sailors, and even incidents where some sailors expressed a desire to jump overboard, according to Stars and Stripes.
The USS Abraham Lincoln left its home port of San Diego in November and was later redirected to the Middle East to support U.S. military operations related to Iran. The carrier currently houses approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines and has not made port in over 200 days, marking a modern record for consecutive days at sea, prompting Democratic lawmakers to seek explanations after families raised concerns about deteriorating living conditions.
Trump Administration Downplays Issues
High-ranking officials within the administration have consistently downplayed the difficulties reported aboard the vessel. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended military logistics during a visit to Panama, stating, “We ensure every ship, every crew, and every captain has what we can offer at all times. Some missions are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anyone else.”
He asserted that reports about the conditions aboard the ship were “completely misrepresentative” of the situation. President Donald Trump also denied allegations that sailors had attempted to jump overboard, asserting, “That ship is moving right now, or will be very soon, and will be replaced with another very similar ship.”
Visit from Central Command Chief
In light of the concerns arising from reports, Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, visited the USS Abraham Lincoln last weekend. In a statement published on social media, he called his recent visit “impressive” and praised the crew’s “resilience,” noting that the ship reported the lowest mental health issues among the Navy’s 11 active carriers.
Cooper commended the leadership aboard the Lincoln for prioritizing the mental health and resilience of the crew.
