The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier recently docked in Thailand after a nine-month deployment that sailors described as exceptionally harsh. The deployment, which began in November and was diverted to the Middle East for combat operations against Iran since February 28, saw the ship at sea for 286 days, with approximately 200 days spent in or near an active war zone. Crew members experienced continuous 12- to 14-hour shifts without days off, leading to widespread exhaustion and mental health concerns among the nearly 5,000 service members aboard.
Reports from sailors and their families indicated significant difficulties, including food and supply shortages, limited communication with loved ones due to restricted Wi-Fi access, and the emotional toll of missing major family milestones like graduations and anniversaries. While Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao acknowledged some mental health issues and supply adjustments, he emphasized the inherent difficulties of combat operations. Despite some rationing, a sailor from the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., a destroyer accompanying the Lincoln, stated that while portions were reduced, they were generally sufficient, though some crew members reported feeling hungry.
The deployment was marked by intense combat, with the USS Abraham Lincoln launching hundreds of airstrikes and shooting down over 200 Iranian drones. The ship also flew over 10,000 sorties and dropped about 1.5 million pounds of ordnance. This extended mission, with only two brief port calls in Guam and Oman that did not allow off-base liberty, has raised concerns among longer-serving sailors about the potential for such deployments to become routine, potentially impacting reenlistment rates. The stop in Thailand was the first full port call where sailors could leave the ship and connect with family reliably.
