> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.duffelblog.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Lincoln sailor returning from deployment already broke
- URL: https://www.duffelblog.com/lincoln-sailor-returning-from-deployment-already-broke/
- Published: 2026-10-05T12:00:53.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-05T12:00:55.000Z
- Description: Financial counselors unable to determine where approximately 10 months of pay went
- Author: Red Friday
- Tags: Navy

SAN DIEGO — Seaman John Rattan was already broke less than 48 hours after returning from nearly 10 months aboard the USS *Abraham Lincoln*, despite spending almost no money during the deployment, sources confirmed.

“I saw him wearing white socks this morning and asked him why,” said Boatswain’s Mate Chief Amanda Marla. “He said he couldn’t afford black ones.”

Marla initially assumed Rattan had celebrated his return by purchasing a [new car at 24% APR](https://www.duffelblog.com/democrats-pander-to-troops-with-dodge/), placing a down payment on a house, or spending several thousand dollars at a [San Diego strip club.](https://www.duffelblog.com/navy-strip-clubs-and-bars-to-be-installed-aboard-aircraft-carriers/)

“He said no,” Marla said. “Apparently he just doesn’t have any money.”

Rattan returned to San Diego with $21 in his checking account.

By the following afternoon, he was overdrawn.

This confused his chain of command because Rattan is single, has no children, owns no vehicle, carries no known debt and spent just $243 during the deployment.

“Two hundred of that was on snacks,” Rattan said.

Asked where the rest of his paychecks went, he shrugged.

“I don't know. Stuff?”

Navy financial counselors immediately began an investigation.

They checked for gambling losses, allotments, [cryptocurrency](https://www.duffelblog.com/female-intel-officer-gives-wrong/) purchases, recurring subscriptions, child support, identity theft and payments to women Rattan had never actually met.

Nothing explained the missing money.

“At one point we were almost hoping he'd fallen for a Filipino romance scam,” said one command financial specialist. “At least then we'd have something.”

Shipmates said Rattan had demonstrated few signs of extravagant living during the deployment.

He routinely ate on the mess decks, watched free movies, played pool in MWR spaces and borrowed toiletries from other sailors.

After returning home, he was spotted at the Navy Exchange staring at an $11 pair of sunglasses for nearly 20 minutes before putting them back.

“Too rich for my blood,” Rattan reportedly said.

Rattan has also asked shipmates to lend him boots for an upcoming seabag inspection.

“He says he lost his boots and all his underwear,” said Seaman Miguel Rodriguez. “I don't know how you lose every pair of underwear during a deployment, but honestly that isn't even our biggest question anymore.”

Navy officials ordered Rattan to complete financial-readiness training, though instructors acknowledged the course assumes participants can identify what they spent their money on.

“He passed the budgeting module,” Marla said. “According to the worksheet, he should have about $24,000.”

She looked at Rattan.

“He has $6 now.”

[Naval Criminal Investigative Service](https://www.duffelblog.com/ncis-episode-navy-spice/) briefly reviewed the case before determining that no crime had occurred.

Defense Finance and Accounting Service likewise confirmed that Rattan had been paid correctly throughout the deployment.

“The money definitely reached his account,” said one official.

“What happened after that is between Seaman Rattan and God.”

Rattan remains optimistic.

“I get paid again soon, right?” he asked.

At press time, his command was processing a request for advance pay after determining the previous 10 months of pay had apparently vanished without a trace somewhere between DFAS and his frontal lobe.

***Red Friday** **wants you to Remember EVERYONE Deployed*