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Aircraft carrier returns to San Diego amid scrutiny
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- The USS Abraham Lincoln returned to San Diego Bay after 322 days at sea, marking one of the longest deployments in U.S. military history, with crew members greeted by eager loved ones despite past reports of low morale.
- The deployment, part of Operation Epic Fury, focused on targeting Iranian missile capabilities and security infrastructure, with the carrier dropping over 1,145 weapons and remaining at sea without a port call for 286 days.
- The ship's crew created a rare mural depicting their mission's impact, including submarines sunk and bombs dropped, aiming to boost morale and leave a lasting mark on the vessel.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded the crew the Presidential Unit Citation, emphasizing the mission's success and rejecting narratives that portrayed the Lincoln as a symbol of dysfunction or failure.
- The return was emotionally significant for many, including 64 parents reuniting with newborns for the first time and sailors like Brent Ledbetter eager to reunite with family after long separations.
