The long-deployed USS Lincoln returns home to San Diego Bay
The USS Lincoln has returned to San Diego after a record-breaking 265-day deployment supporting operations in the Middle East. Families and sailors celebrated the reunion, though the mission was marked by reports of crew fatigue and logistical challenges.
Why it matters
The deployment highlights the human cost of extended military operations and the ongoing debate regarding the operational tempo of the U.S. Navy.
CORONADO, Calif. — After more than 10 months at sea, thousands of sailors Thursday poured out of the the USS Lincoln on San Diego Bay to thunderous cheers, streaming tears and emotional hugs, marking a homecoming that included new dads who met babies born while they were away on a historic deployment supporting the Iran war.
The reunion followed an emotional rollercoaster for families who described crying and losing sleep after hearing reports of supply shortages and deteriorating mental health among the crew during the deployment that spent a record 265 days of uninterrupted time at sea. Many said they only could communicate with family via the occasional email or rare WhatsApp calls.
Abel Ramirez, 20, was glad to have that all behind him. He walked off the carrier with a big grin, overjoyed that his first deployment was over.
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