- The USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed for more than 9 months, facing food and supply shortages, mental health concerns, and exhaustion in an active war zone.
- The USS Abraham Lincoln has docked in Thailand after more than 9 months at sea, providing sailors their first moment of relief.
- Sailors and Marines arrived in Pattaya, greeted by locals and 'Welcome' signs, marking a significant moment after their long deployment.
- Some sailors and spouses expressed a preference to go straight home rather than stop in Thailand, with one spouse stating, 'He's tired of being so far away'.
- During their free time in Pattaya, the carrier's commanding officer imposed a curfew and forbade service members from engaging in prostitution and marijuana use.
- Two sailors with over 10 years of service stated this deployment has been the worst of their careers, expressing concerns about longer deployments and fewer port calls affecting morale.
- A parent of a crew member expressed concern, stating, 'They should not be deployed this long', highlighting the need for constant maintenance on older ships.
- One mother of a sailor aboard the Lincoln shared her son's excitement, saying, 'He's so excited to get on land' and wants to eat pizza or McDonald's.
The USS Abraham Lincoln docked in Thailand on Wednesday after a record-setting nine-month deployment, marking its first port visit since November 2022. The nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard faced significant challenges, including food shortages and mental health issues, while operating in an active war zone.2
Service members expressed mixed feelings about the stop. One sailor's mother shared, “He’s so excited to get on land, he’s never been outside of the United States before. He wants to eat pizza or McDonald’s.” However, many sailors voiced a desire to return home instead of stopping in Thailand, citing exhaustion from the lengthy deployment.1
The Lincoln's deployment included more than 250 days at sea and was marked by intense operational demands, with sailors working 12- to 14-hour days without breaks. Adm. Brad Cooper noted that the crew shot down over 200 drones threatening U.S. forces during their mission.
Concerns about the ship's condition were evident, with visible rust and a need for maintenance. Capt. Dan Keeler, the Lincoln's commanding officer, acknowledged the ship's appearance, stating, “It is normal for a long deployment.” Family members of sailors expressed worries about the impact of extended deployments on morale and retention, with one parent stating, “They should not be deployed this long.”
The visit to Thailand is seen as a demonstration of the U.S.'s commitment to its allies in the region, but the toll on the crew raises questions about future deployments.
“Nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines faced food and supply shortages, mental health concerns, and exhaustion during the deployment. The commanding officer imposed a curfew in Pattaya, forbidding prostitution and marijuana use, while some sailors with over 10 years of service called it the worst deployment of their careers.”
MS NOW
CBS News
