The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln arrived at Laem Chabang port in Chonburi province, eastern Thailand, on the morning of August 19, marking the first respite for its crew after 9.5 months of extended operations in the Middle East. The port call comes amid reports of supply shortages, declining mental health, and low morale on board.
The destroyer USS Frank E Petersen Jr and other US warships accompanied the carrier into port. By afternoon, buses carrying sailors and Marines in civilian clothes arrived at a resort in Pattaya, a coastal city about 150 kilometers southeast of Bangkok.
Thai officials said the USS Abraham Lincoln would stop to allow the crew to rest and recover before returning to its home base in the United States. The ship carries about 5,000 personnel and took part in naval blockades and combat operations during the US-Israeli war against Iran.
An Associated Press reporter at the scene observed signs of wear on the ship's hull, with large patches of rust visible along the waterline and the edges of the flight deck where fighter jets and helicopters were parked. Asked about the ship's weathered appearance, Captain Dan Keeler said it was “normal after a long deployment” and declined further comment.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump dismissed concerns from sailors' families about the carrier's extended deployment. Typical naval deployments last six to nine months, with extensions only during intense conflicts. Asked weeks ago at Joint Base Andrews whether the USS Abraham Lincoln had been at sea too long, Trump replied, “No, not long enough at all.”
When asked about the president's remark, Captain Keeler said, “The president speaks for himself” and “that's what I think about it.”
The sailors and Marines are expected to rest in Thailand for several days. Rear Admiral Robert E Loughran, commander of Carrier Strike Group 3, said in a statement: “The ship's visit to Laem Chabang is a well-deserved opportunity for the sailors and Marines to rest and recharge. What this strike group has accomplished is truly historic. I could not be prouder of the professionalism and excellence every member of the team has shown throughout our operations.”
In his second term, Trump has pledged to avoid prolonged and costly military conflicts. After launching the war against Iran alongside Israel, the president and his advisers had suggested the conflict would last only a few weeks. It is now in its seventh month.
