Two sailors assigned to the USS George Washington have died within days of the aircraft carrier’s return to its new homeport in Yokosuka, Japan.
The sailors, Petty Officer 2nd Class Cuyler Burnett Condon and Seaman Dimitri Isacc Morales were both found unresponsive in separate incidents, the Navy confirmed on December 2.
Condon, an electrician’s mate nuclear from Texas, was found dead in a base hotel room on November 22, the same day the USS George Washington arrived in Yokosuka, home of the US 7th Fleet. Medical personnel from the US Naval Hospital Yokosuka responded but pronounced Condon dead at the scene.
Just days later, on November 25, Morales, an electrician’s mate fireman, was discovered unresponsive off base in Yokosuka. Local emergency responders declared him dead upon arrival.
Lt. Cmdr. Mark Langford, a spokesman for the USS George Washington, confirmed both deaths and offered condolences to the families and shipmates of the deceased.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with USS George Washington’s crewmembers and families following the loss of their Sailors,” the Spokesman told Star and Stripes. “Grief counseling and support services are available to the crew.”
Both deaths are under investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS), which is working in conjunction with Japanese authorities in the case of Morales’ death.
The cause of death for both sailors remains undetermined at this time, and further details are being withheld as investigations continue.
Condon enlisted in the Navy in January 2019 and underwent extensive nuclear training before joining the USS George Washington in January 2021.
Morales, who enlisted in July 2022, reported to the aircraft carrier in October 2023 after completing his training at Great Lakes, Illinois.
USS George Washington Notorious For ‘String Of Suicides’
The USS George Washington, currently stationed in Japan, has been under scrutiny in recent years due to a troubling series of suicides among its crew.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier took over from the USS Ronald Reagan, which was sent to Bremerton for maintenance after enduring a challenging six-year stint in a Virginia shipyard.
The carrier underwent a lengthy refueling and overhaul at Newport News, initially planned for four years but delayed by COVID-19 and other setbacks. The process, which began in 2017, was not completed until May 2023, when the ship finally embarked on sea trials.
While the deaths of two sailors assigned to the USS George Washington occurred off the ship, the carrier has made headlines in recent years for a disturbing pattern of suicides. Investigations into conditions at Newport News revealed quality-of-life issues for the crew, compounded by a series of suicides under such harsh circumstances.
In 2022, reports emerged revealing that more than six suicides had taken place aboard the USS George Washington since November 2019.
Subsequent investigations identified several factors contributing to these tragedies, including inadequate leadership, insufficient support for sailors, and the declining living conditions on the ship.
A 2023 Navy report highlighted that from 2017 to 2019, the ship recorded the highest number of suicide-related behaviors—suicidal thoughts and attempts—among East Coast aircraft carriers.
Additionally, a 2019 command climate survey revealed that the ship’s performance in key areas, such as sailor welfare, was below the Navy’s average.
A 2020 survey revealed similar results, with sailors’ “awareness of suicidal ideations” aboard the ship increasing from 31% to 56% within a year. The report said that the ship “failed to address this finding.”
The Navy’s data also revealed that more than half of all suicides on aircraft carriers from 2017 onward occurred while the ships were docked in shipyards.
Meanwhile, the USS George Washington’s crew is now facing new restrictions. As of November 26, the ship’s 3,000 sailors are prohibited from consuming alcohol on or off base, a precautionary measure introduced after the carrier’s arrival in Japan.
Additionally, sailors aged 18 and 19 are restricted from taking overnight liberty. These measures, which are not expected to be permanent, are part of ongoing efforts to ensure the well-being of the crew.
In addition to these new restrictions, all US sailors in Japan must comply with a midnight-to-5 a.m. ban on drinking in public places off base, as mandated by Rear Admiral Ian Johnson, commander of Navy Region Japan. This measure follows earlier restrictions in response to two sexual assault cases involving US personnel in Okinawa this summer.
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