Buses transporting the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier crew members arrived in the coastal city of Pattaya, Thailand, on Thursday for a port call following an extended deployment in the Middle East. The Lincoln played a role in the U.S. operations against Iran, setting a new record with over 260 days at sea, raising concerns about crew mental health and food shortages.
Despite reports of crew issues, the U.S. Navy and President Trump dismissed any significant problems, with Trump even remarking that the deployment was insufficiently long. According to the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, the Lincoln spent a total of 286 days deployed, with an uninterrupted sea time of 264 days before reaching Chonburi province.
The ship is scheduled to depart Thailand over the weekend to resume its journey back to the U.S. Upon arrival in Pattaya, crew members expressed excitement to be in Thailand, with vendors and travel agents awaiting them at the Hard Rock Hotel, offering various souvenirs and services. Nearby, two other ships from the Lincoln’s strike group, the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. and USS Robert Smalls, were also docked in different Thai ports.
Local vendors, like A-ngoon Sombat, traveled long distances to sell their goods to the visiting crew members. Meanwhile, service members were seen exploring Pattaya’s attractions, including shopping malls, with one young navigator from the Petersen expressing relief and joy at being on his way back home.
As the ship attracted attention from onlookers outside Laem Chabang Port, visitors marveled at the engineering prowess of the massive vessel. American resident Keith Eldridge praised the technological marvel of the aircraft carrier, emphasizing its advanced systems and capabilities. The Lincoln’s commanding officer, Capt. Dan Keeler, hinted at potential supply stops before the ship’s anticipated return, refraining from disclosing the exact timeline for the strike group’s arrival in the U.S.