USS Lincoln sailors reunite with families after 322 days abroad
The carrier arrived at US Naval Air Station North Island to cheers from family members and friends who had gathered to welcome the crew home after nearly 11 months away.
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier returned to its home port in San Diego, California on Thursday after a 322-day deployment, welcoming roughly 5,000 sailors and their families. Among the arrivals were 122 fathers meeting their newborn children for the first time, following the Navy's tradition of acknowledging these new dads.
Capt. Daniel Keeler, the ship's commanding officer, confirmed that the total count of new dads met at the port was 122, including those from the air wing. Lt. Cmdr. Tyler Barker, the carrier's public affairs officer, announced at a news conference that these new fathers were eagerly awaiting their children's arrival. Families and loved ones traveled from across the United States to be present for this momentous reunion, including Lisa Bisson from Maine who brought her family to welcome her son Joseph home from his first deployment.
The Lincoln's journey began in November 2025, initially planned as a shorter deployment but later extended to the Middle East due to US and Israeli military operations against Iran. The carrier set a record for 265 consecutive days at sea without a port visit. The USS George Washington relieved Lincoln in August before the carrier embarked on its return trip to California, pausing in Thailand and Guam along the way.
The prolonged deployment prompted concerns about the sailors' living conditions, with the Navy later revealing that eight sailors from the carrier strike group had attempted suicide during the mission. On Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the ship and presented the crew with the prestigious Presidential Unit Citation, the highest unit-level award for valor.
The carrier strike group's duties encompassed thousands of combat missions and attacks on Iranian military targets throughout the war.
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