SAN DIEGO – The USS Abraham Lincoln will soon arrive back at its home port of San Diego, completing an arduous deployment to the Middle East where the aircraft carrier operated for months in an active combat zone.
The Lincoln’s crew of roughly 5,000 experienced mental health challenges, poor living conditions, and reduced meal options while playing a key role in sustaining U.S. military operations during the war against Iran.
Though members of the Trump administration initially downplayed the reports of poor conditions onboard the Lincoln, the Navy has since acknowledged that the aircraft carrier suffered from resupply disruptions.
Eight sailors attempted suicide during the Lincoln’s deployment, which included 265 days at sea without a port call,
according to the Navy.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Lincoln’s crew on Oct. 7 and praised their resilience while blaming the media for exaggerating reports about the conditions onboard the aircraft carrier.
“There were a few folks in the media who tried to turn the USS Abraham Lincoln into some sort of a symbol, a symbol of dysfunction, or a symbol of low morale, or a symbol of a failed mission,” Hegseth said.
“When I talk to your leadership,” he added, “I know it’s the exact opposite.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USS Abraham Lincoln returns home after historic deployment. Live updates
