USS Abraham Lincoln Docks in Thailand After 286 Days at Sea
The aircraft carrier and its strike group arrived in Thailand for rest and repair after a record deployment tied to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
The USS Abraham Lincoln pulled into Laem Chabang Port in eastern Thailand on Wednesday, giving thousands of sailors and Marines their first extended time ashore in more than 280 days after a record-setting deployment centered on the Middle East.
The toll of the more than nine-month deployment, most of it spent supporting military operations in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, was visible on the 1,092-foot warship, one of the largest in the world, as paint wore away and rust showed through on its hull.
The Navy said the carrier is making a four-day "rest and relaxation" stop on its way home to San Diego. The lengthy deployment had drawn attention in recent weeks over concerns about supply shortages and the toll on sailors' mental health.
The Navy confirmed the Lincoln strike group's arrival in a statement, noting the destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. docked nearby in Sriracha and the guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls arrived at Map Ta Phut in Rayong province. It was the Lincoln's first full port stop after 286 days at sea since the deployment began in November.
"Our arrival in Laem Chabang provides a well-deserved opportunity for our sailors and Marines to rest and recharge," said Rear Adm. Robert E. Loughran, commander of Carrier Strike Group 3. "It also underscores the strong and enduring partnership and alliance between the United States and Thailand."
About 5,000 sailors and Marines are expected to head to the nearby resort city of Pattaya, with each service member granted three "liberty days" and one day of duty aboard ship, a U.S. military official said.
Pattaya officials, whose tourism-dependent economy has suffered from travel disruptions and higher fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict, said the visit is expected to bring roughly $3 million into the local economy. Authorities increased police patrols and road checks ahead of the arrival, and local businesses put up banners welcoming the sailors.
Wichai Yuankham, 35, a factory worker who came to watch the ships arrive, said the visit was a welcome boost. "I am just excited to see the destroyer docking," he said. "This is my first time seeing the destroyer, and I feel good seeing it, and we can boast to our neighboring countries about this."
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