USS Abraham Lincoln's Condition As It Makes Port: What Photos Show

The USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier, docked at its home port of San Diego after spending 321 days at sea on a mission called Operation Epic Fury. The carrier had garnered attention for reports of low morale, suicide attempts, and inadequate food supplies during its deployment.

Upon arrival, families and locals celebrated the crew's safe return, with banners and flags welcoming them back. National and state officials, including former Vice President Mike Pence, shared messages of pride and congratulations for the crew's performance. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria expressed hope that the crew would find rest, healing, and joy in their homecoming.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the crew prior to the official return, praising their courage, professionalism, and resilience. The ship underwent some cleaning during its port visit in Laem Chabang, Thailand, which left its exterior fresher for its return to San Diego. Hegseth emphasized that the media's attempts to portray the Lincoln's deployment as a symbol of dysfunction were incorrect and misleading.

The Lincoln was a part of Operation Epic Fury in Iran, where it carried out 40 days of combat operations, sank 64 Iranian warships, conducted 3,693 combat sorties, launched 450 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, shot down 77 drones, and defended itself against missiles and boats. Despite the significant wear and tear on the ship's exterior, experts stated that it is a cosmetic issue and does not impact the carrier's operational capabilities.