Buses transporting personnel from the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier arrived in the coastal city of Pattaya, Thailand, following an extended deployment in the Middle East. The carrier was involved in U.S. operations against Iran and set a new record with over 260 consecutive days at sea, sparking concerns about crew members’ mental health and food shortages onboard.
Despite reports of challenges, the U.S. Navy downplayed any issues, with President Donald Trump remarking that the deployment was insufficiently long. The Lincoln had been at sea for a total of 286 days, with 264 continuous days before its recent arrival in Chonburi province.
After disembarking from buses with luggage in tow, crew members expressed their excitement about being in Thailand. Various vendors and travel agents gathered outside the Hard Rock Hotel, the designated meeting point for the troops from the Lincoln, which was docked nearby at Laem Chabang Port.
Two other ships from the Lincoln’s strike group were also present in Thailand, with the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. destroyer at Sriracha port and the USS Robert Smalls cruiser in Rayong province. Local vendors, like A-ngoon Sombat, seized the opportunity to sell their goods to the visiting crew members.
The crew members were seen exploring Pattaya, visiting malls, and enjoying their time ashore. A young navigator aboard the Petersen expressed high morale among the crew and his relief at being on his way home after his first deployment with the U.S. Navy.
The sight of the massive Lincoln carrier attracted onlookers, including Keith Eldridge, who marveled at the engineering feat. As excitement built around the ship’s visit, the commanding officer, Capt. Dan Keeler, hinted at the ship’s impending return home, possibly with additional supply stops along the way.
