Hegseth gives USS Abraham Lincoln crew Presidential Unit Citation before return home
In short
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth flew out to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Wednesday and presented its crew and accompanying ships with the Presidential Unit Citation for combat operations and a maritime blockade against Iran. The carrier was due to arrive in its home port of San Diego on Thursday after a record-long deployment, and Bloomberg reported Hegseth told the crew he had twice signed orders extending it.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth presented the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with the Presidential Unit Citation during a visit to the ship on Wednesday, a day before it was due to return to its home port of San Diego after a record-long deployment in support of the Iran war, the Associated Press reported. CBS News also reported that Hegseth flew out a day early to greet the crew and present the citation. [ 1 , 6 ]
The citation, which the AP described as the highest honor a unit can receive and typically reserved for significant achievement in combat, was given to the Lincoln and accompanying ships for "40 days of combat operations and an ironclad maritime blockade against Iran in support of Operation Epic Fury," Hegseth said. Operation Epic Fury is the Trump administration's code name for the Iran war, according to the AP. [ 1 ]
According to Bloomberg, Hegseth told the crew he was the one who approved prolonging the deployment. "I'm the one who signed that orders book — twice — to extend you," he said in his speech, adding: "I plead guilty." The AP reported he also told the crew "I'm the only thing standing between you and home" and that once the ship reached the dock, "we're getting out of the way." [ 1 , 3 ]
Accounts of the deployment's length differ. The AP reported the carrier endured a record 265 uninterrupted days at sea and had been deployed for more than 10 months, while CBS News said the sailors had spent more than 300 days at sea. The Lincoln departed San Diego in late November, and its crew had a stop in Thailand early last month on the way back from the Middle East, the AP reported. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
The extended deployment drew national attention following reports of crew stress and poor mental health, as well as shortages of supplies including food and hygiene products, the AP reported. It noted that long deployments keep service members away from their families while facing threats and add wear to carriers, which have been used in US military operations in the Middle East and South America. [ 1 ]
The Lincoln is the second carrier to complete an unusually long deployment in support of the war against Iran and the second to receive the top unit award afterward. In May, Hegseth met the crew of the USS Gerald R. Ford as it returned from a 326-day deployment, the longest for an aircraft carrier in the past 50 years, the AP reported. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The Lincoln is the second carrier to complete an unusually long deployment in support of the war against Iran and the second to receive the top unit award afterward, the Associated Press reported. Its deployment drew national attention over reports of crew stress, poor mental health and shortages of food and hygiene products, and long deployments add wear to carriers used in US military operations.
Key facts
- Hegseth presented the Presidential Unit Citation to the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying ships during a visit to the carrier on Wednesday. [ 1 ]
- Hegseth said the award was for "40 days of combat operations and an ironclad maritime blockade against Iran in support of Operation Epic Fury." [ 1 ]
- The Presidential Unit Citation is the highest honor a unit can receive and is typically reserved for significant achievement in combat, the AP reported. [ 1 ]
- The carrier was due back in San Diego on Thursday. [ 1 , 6 ]
- The AP reported the carrier spent a record 265 uninterrupted days at sea; CBS News said the sailors had been at sea more than 300 days. [ 1 , 6 ]
- Hegseth told the crew he had signed orders twice to extend their deployment, saying "I plead guilty," Bloomberg reported. [ 3 ]
- The Lincoln departed San Diego in late November and its crew had a stop in Thailand early last month on the way back from the Middle East. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The USS Gerald R. Ford returned in May from a 326-day deployment, the longest for an aircraft carrier in the past 50 years, the AP reported. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Hegseth presented the USS Abraham Lincoln crew with the Presidential Unit Citation during a visit to the ship. [ 1 , 6 ]
- Hegseth flew out to the carrier before it reached its home port of San Diego. [ 1 , 3 , 6 ]
- The Lincoln was expected to arrive in San Diego on Thursday. [ 1 , 6 ]
- The Lincoln's deployment was unusually long and linked to the US war with Iran. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How long the Lincoln was at sea. The AP gives a record 265 uninterrupted days at sea and more than 10 months deployed, while CBS News says more than 300 days at sea.
- Hegseth's statement that he twice signed orders extending the deployment. Only Bloomberg reported this remark.