Food on Ships Hard to Swallow, Morale of U.S. Naval Forces in the Middle East Hits New Low

Reference News Network reported on April 20 According to the British "Daily Telegraph" website on April 17, U.S. Marine Corps soldiers deployed to the Middle East, preparing to strike Iran after the fragile ceasefire agreement collapses, are complaining about dwindling rations and unappetizing food.

A photo of a "meal" taken on the USS Abraham Lincoln shows only a piece of what appears to be pre-packaged Greek meat, a pile of unidentifiable brown paste, and some boiled carrots.

Another photo taken on the USS Tripoli shows that the meal tray contains only a spoonful of ground meat and a flatbread.

The USS Tripoli is an amphibious assault ship carrying about 3,500 Marines and sailors, and has been adrift at sea since leaving the Okinawa base in Japan over a month ago. The ship is currently involved in Trump's blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran quickly mocked the U.S. with photos of this unappetizing food. The Iranian embassy in Tunisia posted on social media platform X, saying, "Oh my God, it's unbelievable! Is this what Trump is feeding soldiers to clear the Strait of Hormuz?" The post also stated, "Mothers of American soldiers, take a look at this."

A Marine told his father that the ship has started rationing food, the coffee machine is already broken, and fresh fruits and vegetables have long been cut off.

Dan, a 63-year-old retired Marine, angrily told a reporter from USA Today, "We have the strongest military in the world, and we should not be facing food shortages and mail disruptions."

After the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, the postal delivery service for U.S. troops in the Middle East was temporarily suspended. In April, the military announced an indefinite halt to mail delivery, citing "airspace closure" and "logistical impacts of the conflict."

Thousands of packages filled with snacks and food, often costing a considerable amount in postage, remain stuck in warehouses waiting to be delivered.

According to USA Today, a mother spent $2,000 to send a care package to her starving son on the USS Tripoli, but weeks have passed, and it has still not arrived. The soldier texted in mid-March that supplies "are about to run out," and the ship will not dock at any port before the mission ends. He wrote, "Morale will hit an all-time low."

These various issues point to the severe strain the conflict has placed on supply lines—naval fleets continue to carry out missions without being able to dock for rest.

Personnel on one of the two aircraft carriers deployed in the region, the USS Lincoln, also complain about poor quality and insufficient food.

Pastor Karen Erskine-Valentine from West Virginia, after learning about the situation on the ship, stated, "The food is bland and tasteless, the portions are pitiful, and the personnel are hungry all day long. This situation is truly heartbreaking."

This is a stark contrast to the situation before the outbreak of the Iran war, when U.S. troops enjoyed steak and lobster dinners. Last month, the government oversight organization "Open the Books" revealed that in September last year, the Department of Defense spent nearly $9 million to procure king crab and lobster for the troops, led by Peter Hegseth.

In February, photos circulated online showing steak and seafood dinners on plastic trays.

Generations of American soldiers know that the military often rewards them with "land and sea feasts" before a war—this is both a signal of impending conflict and a customary way for commanders to boost morale before difficult deployments.

In March, the "Open the Books" organization revealed that the Department of Defense spent $93 billion in September last year, and the budget was already running low before the fiscal year ended.

This massive expenditure included $15.1 million for steak, $6.9 million for lobster tails, and $2 million for Alaskan king crab. Hegseth also spent nearly $100,000 to purchase a grand piano for the Air Force Chief of Staff's residence. (Translated by Xu Yanhong)