Buses transporting USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier crew members arrived in Pattaya, Thailand, for a port visit following an extended deployment in the Middle East. The carrier spent a record-setting 260 days at sea, raising concerns about crew mental health and food shortages onboard.
Despite worries, the U.S. Navy downplayed issues while President Trump remarked that the deployment was insufficiently long. The ship, according to the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, completed a 286-day deployment, with 264 days spent continuously at sea before reaching Chonburi province.
The USS Abraham Lincoln is expected to depart Thailand over the weekend on its journey back to the U.S. Upon arrival, crew members expressed excitement about being in Thailand, with vendors and travel agents awaiting them at designated locations for souvenirs and services.
Accompanying ships from the Lincoln’s strike group, including the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. and USS Robert Smalls, are also docked in different Thai ports. Local vendors, like A-ngoon Sombat, traveled long distances to sell merchandise to visiting crew members, hoping for a successful week.
In Pattaya, crew members were seen shopping at Terminal 21 mall, enjoying their time ashore. A young navigator aboard the Petersen, on his first Navy deployment, mentioned the high morale among his crew and his eagerness to return home.
Visitors gathered outside Laem Chabang Port to catch a glimpse of the USS Abraham Lincoln, with many taking photos and videos of the massive carrier. Keith Eldridge, an American resident in Thailand, described the ship as an “engineering marvel” with advanced technology.
The commanding officer, Capt. Dan Keeler, indicated that the ship will depart for home soon, with possible supply stops along the way. The exact return date of the strike group to the U.S. remains undisclosed.
