USS Lincoln sailors reunite with families after 322 days abroad

The USS Abraham Lincoln returned to its home port in San Diego after a 322-day deployment, reuniting roughly 5,000 sailors with their families. The carrier was redirected to the Middle East as the US and Israel launched operations against Iran, spending a record 265 consecutive days at sea.

The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier returned to its home port in San Diego, California on Thursday after a 322-day deployment, reuniting roughly 5,000 sailors with their families. The carrier arrived at US Naval Air Station North Island to cheers from family members and friends. In keeping with Navy tradition, fathers of babies born during the deployment disembarked first. The Navy said 64 fathers serving aboard the carrier were meeting their babies for the first time, while the ship's commanding officer said the number rose to 122 when the carrier's air wing was included. The carrier departed San Diego in November 2025 for what was initially expected to be a shorter deployment. It was later redirected to the Middle East as the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, extending the deployment. The Lincoln spent a record 265 consecutive days at sea without a port visit. The extended deployment drew scrutiny over the crew's living conditions, and the Navy told lawmakers that eight sailors assigned to the carrier strike group had attempted suicide during the deployment. On Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the carrier and presented the crew with the Presidential Unit Citation.