Buses transporting crew members of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier arrived in Pattaya, Thailand, for a port call following an extensive deployment in the Middle East. The carrier spent over 260 consecutive days at sea, setting a record, which raised concerns about crew mental health and food shortages onboard.
Despite these concerns, the U.S. Navy downplayed the issues, with President Donald Trump remarking that the deployment was “not nearly long enough.” The USS Lincoln had been deployed for a total of 286 days, with 264 days of uninterrupted sea time before reaching Chonburi province.
The ship is scheduled to leave Thailand over the weekend to continue its journey back to the U.S. Upon arrival in Pattaya, crew members expressed excitement about being in Thailand, with vendors and travel agents welcoming them as they disembarked from buses at the Hard Rock Hotel, the designated meeting point for the crew.
Two other vessels from the Lincoln’s strike group, the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. and USS Robert Smalls, were also docked in different locations in Thailand. Local vendors like A-ngoon Sombat seized the opportunity to sell souvenirs to the crew, anticipating good business during the port call.
Service members were seen exploring Pattaya, with some shopping at the Terminal 21 mall. A young navigator aboard the Petersen, on his first U.S. Navy deployment, shared his relief at being close to returning home, despite not commenting on reported conditions on the Lincoln.
Outside Laem Chabang Port, people gathered to catch a glimpse of the massive ship, taking photos and marveling at the engineering feat. Keith Eldridge, an American resident in Thailand, found the viewing spot impressive, highlighting the advanced technology onboard the carrier.
Captain Dan Keeler, the Lincoln’s commanding officer, mentioned the ship’s imminent return home but refrained from disclosing the exact date. The crew may make additional supply stops before heading back to the U.S.