USS Abraham Lincoln Returns to San Diego After Record 265-Day Deployment at Sea
To loud cheers from loved ones waving American flags, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group returned to its Southern California homeport on Thursday, concluding a record-setting 10-month deployment to the Persian Gulf. The aircraft carrier spent 321 days on deployment, the second-longest since the end of the Cold War. During that time, the Lincoln logged a historic 265 consecutive days at sea without a port visit—the longest uninterrupted stretch in U.S. Naval history.
The deployment was marked by intense combat operations during the Iran war, which limited opportunities for resupply. In August, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the Lincoln maintained adequate food supplies, but because combat operations restricted resupply, meal options were reduced from two to one for a short time. He also told reporters that a retired admiral assured him the ship is “beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of.” The crew, now home, looks forward to reuniting with family and enjoying favorite meals.
On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth flew out to the carrier to present the crew with the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest honor a unit can receive, typically reserved for significant achievement in combat. The Lincoln is the second carrier to endure an unusually long deployment during the Iran war and to receive the citation afterward. The ship’s return marks the end of a grueling but distinguished mission that tested the resilience of its sailors and the endurance of the fleet.
Shimanta Das 
