USS Abraham Lincoln returns to San Diego after deployment extended by Iran war
In short
The US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln returned to its home port of San Diego on October 8 local time after a deployment of 321 or 322 days, extended by the US war with Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded its strike group the Presidential Unit Citation the day before. The deployment drew controversy over supply shortages, morale and eight suicide attempts reported by the Navy.
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The USS Abraham Lincoln, a US Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, returned to its home port of San Diego, California, on October 8 local time. Kyunghyang Shinmun and Chosun Ilbo put the deployment at 321 days and Dong-A Ilbo at 322. The carrier left San Diego in November last year (November 21, according to Dong-A Ilbo), and its deployment was extended after the US began a war with Iran in February. Chosun Ilbo reported that families crowded Coronado from early morning to greet about 5,000 sailors, who began coming ashore at around 2 p.m. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth boarded the carrier on October 7 and awarded the Presidential Unit Citation to units of the Lincoln carrier strike group. Kyunghyang Shinmun, citing AP, reported that the citation credits the group with 3,693 combat missions, 1.37 million pounds of munitions dropped, 450 Tomahawk cruise missiles fired, 77 attack drones shot down, 64 Iranian warships sunk and 21 anti-ship cruise missiles destroyed. Hegseth said the crew had been kept away from home by his own decision to extend the deployment. According to Chosun Ilbo, he said the media had tried to turn the Lincoln into a symbol of dysfunction or low morale but "we know it is exactly the opposite." [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The deployment drew controversy over crew mental health, morale and supply shortages. Dong-A Ilbo reported that acting Navy Under Secretary Hung Cao told Democratic lawmakers in August that eight sailors in the strike group had attempted or tried to attempt suicide. One jumped into the sea and colleagues stopped another. AP reported that experts considered the figure low for a 6,000-strong group over ten months. Chosun Ilbo reported shortages of food and hygiene supplies, quoting a remark that the lack of soap and toothpaste was "like the Third World." [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Dong-A Ilbo, citing the New York Times, reported that Iran destroyed a key US Navy hub in Manama, Bahrain, after the war began on February 28. The Navy then moved its supply hub to Diego Garcia, about 2,200 miles away, and ships in the region including the Lincoln ran short of food and fuel. Parcels sent by families were lost, damaged or arrived months late. The carrier's captain, Daniel J. Keeler (대니얼 J. 킬러), said the crew received the food and supplies it needed and never missed a mission, with four meals served a day. [ 3 ]
The carrier spent 265 consecutive days at sea without a port call, which the Pentagon called a record. The crew rested for five days in Pattaya, Thailand, from September 2. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff said the Iran war, with no clear goal or progress, must end, and Senator Ruben Gallego said the deployment showed the administration sees troops as political "pawns." Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that the carriers George Washington and George H. W. Bush are now deployed in the Middle East. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The documents tie the supply shortages on the Lincoln to the Iran war, which forced the US Navy to move its supply hub to Diego Garcia. Democratic senators criticised the Trump administration's handling of the war over the deployment, while Hegseth presented it as a combat success.
Key facts
- The USS Abraham Lincoln returned to its home port of San Diego on October 8 local time. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The carrier left San Diego in November last year; its deployment was extended after the US began a war with Iran in February. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The carrier spent 265 consecutive days at sea without a port call, which the Pentagon called a record. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded the Presidential Unit Citation to units of the Lincoln carrier strike group. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The citation credits the group with 3,693 combat missions, 450 Tomahawk missiles fired, 77 attack drones shot down and 64 Iranian warships sunk. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Eight sailors in the strike group attempted suicide during the deployment. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Shortages of food and other supplies were reported during the deployment. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Abraham Lincoln returned to San Diego on October 8 local time. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The carrier departed San Diego in November last year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Pete Hegseth visited the carrier before its arrival and awarded the strike group the Presidential Unit Citation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Eight sailors in the strike group attempted suicide during the deployment. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The carrier spent 265 consecutive days at sea without a port call. [ 1 , 2 ]
- About 5,000 sailors returned with the carrier. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The citation lists 3,693 combat missions, 64 Iranian warships sunk, 450 Tomahawk missiles fired and 77 attack drones downed. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- The length of the deployment: 321 days or 322 days. Kyunghyang Shinmun and Chosun Ilbo give 321 days; Dong-A Ilbo gives 322.
- The length of the USS Gerald R. Ford's record deployment: 326 or 327 days. Kyunghyang Shinmun gives 326 days; Dong-A Ilbo gives 327.
- Whether food and supplies on board were adequate. Families and Chosun Ilbo describe shortages, while the carrier's captain said the crew received the food and supplies it needed.
- Whether the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt will join the two carriers now in the Middle East. Only Kyunghyang Shinmun, citing AP, reports US officials saying it could join as early as the end of this month.
- Hegseth's title. Kyunghyang Shinmun and Dong-A Ilbo call him defense secretary; Chosun Ilbo calls him secretary of war.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The US and Israel begin the war with Iran, according to Dong-A Ilbo citing the New York Times. [ 3 ]
- The Lincoln makes a port call in Pattaya, Thailand, where the crew rests for five days. [ 3 ]
- Hegseth visits the carrier and awards the Presidential Unit Citation. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reports (Korean time) that the carrier is due in San Diego that day. [ 1 ]
- Sailors begin leaving the carrier in San Diego, around 2 p.m. local time. [ 2 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports (Korean time) on the return, citing the New York Times. [ 3 ]