Carrier returns after more than ten months

The USS Abraham Lincoln arrived at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, California on Thursday after more than ten months at sea supporting the Iran war.

Thousands of sailors reunite with families

Thousands of sailors poured off the carrier to thunderous cheers, streaming tears and emotional hugs as families waited on the pier in San Diego Bay.

Record time at sea took emotional toll

The deployment lasted three hundred twenty-two days, the second-longest aircraft carrier deployment in fifty years. Families reported crying and losing sleep over reports of supply shortages and deteriorating mental health.

Sailor describes the hardship

Abel Ramirez, twenty, walked off the carrier with relief after his first deployment. He said there was a point when he never thought he would come off.

“There was a certain point when I never thought I would come off.”

Families missed milestones during deployment

Cassity Garduque, fourteen, reunited with her mom after missing most of seventh grade and her birthday. Her mom said she is happy she won't be eating ramen almost every day.

Ship's commander defends deployment record

Captain Daniel Keeler said most crew were on their first deployment and issues faced were normal for such a long deployment. Everyone had access to four meals a day, he said.

“It's a floating city as you can see and at any moment there might be a clogged toilet.”

Defense Secretary awards highest military honor

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth flew to the Lincoln on Wednesday to give the crew the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest honor a unit can receive for their service.

One hundred twenty-two new fathers meet babies

Among the first to depart were sixty-four fathers meeting their babies for the first time. With the airwing included, there were one hundred twenty-two new dads, Captain Keeler said.

Sailor Steven Rivas meets seven-month-old daughter

Sailor Steven Rivas became overwhelmed as the ship pulled into the bay, seeing everyone and knowing his family was waiting. He held his seven-month-old daughter for the first time.

“I couldn't grasp the reality of it.”

Crew executed nearly thirty-seven hundred combat missions

According to the Presidential Unit Citation, the Lincoln and its strike group executed nearly three thousand seven hundred combat missions, launched four hundred fifty Tomahawk cruise missiles, and shot down seventy-seven drones.

Eight sailors attempted suicide during deployment

The Navy told lawmakers that eight sailors attempted suicide during the record-setting deployment. Experts said that number is low in a strike group of six thousand sailors over ten months.