Buses transporting crew members of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier arrived in the coastal city of Pattaya, Thailand, on Thursday for a scheduled port call following an extended deployment to the Middle East. The Lincoln had been involved in operations supporting the U.S. efforts in the region, setting a new record for consecutive days at sea exceeding 260 days. Concerns were raised recently about the crew’s mental well-being and shortages of essential supplies onboard.
Despite these concerns, the U.S. Navy downplayed any issues, with President Donald Trump even remarking that the deployment was too short. The ship had been deployed for a total of 286 days, with 264 consecutive days at sea before reaching Chonburi province in Thailand.
The vessel is set to depart Thailand over the weekend as it continues its journey back to the United States. Upon arrival in Pattaya, crew members expressed excitement about being in Thailand and were greeted by vendors and travel agents offering various services and souvenirs at the designated pickup point near the Hard Rock Hotel.
Other ships from the Lincoln’s strike group, including the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. and the USS Robert Smalls, were also docked in different locations in Thailand. Local vendors, like A-ngoon Sombat, traveled long distances to sell their products to the visiting crew.
Amidst their stay, crew members were seen exploring Pattaya’s Terminal 21 mall and enjoying some downtime ashore. A young navigator aboard the Petersen expressed high morale among the crew and relief at being on the way back home. Visitors flocked to witness the massive USS Abraham Lincoln, with some, like Keith Eldridge, traveling from afar to catch a glimpse of the engineering marvel.
As the ship prepares to return home, the commanding officer, Capt. Dan Keeler, hinted at potential supply stops but refrained from disclosing the exact timeline for the strike group’s return to the U.S.