U.S. sailors hit the streets of Thailand after record-setting Middle East deployment
USS Abraham Lincoln's lengthy deployment drew concerns about deteriorating mental health, food shortages
Buses carrying crew members of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier streamed into Thailand's seaside resort city of Pattaya on Thursday as part of a port call after a lengthy deployment to the Middle East.
asserted
Buses → hit → East
The Lincoln was supporting the U.S. war against Iran, and its deployment included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 260 days.
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deployment → support → days
This drew concerns last month about deteriorating mental health among the crew as well as shortages of key food supplies on board.
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This → draw → board
The U.S. Navy downplayed any problems, and President Donald Trump said the deployment was "not nearly long enough."
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deployment → downplay → problems
The ship has been deployed for a total of 286 days, according to the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok.
uncertain
ship → deploy → Bangkok
The ship is expected to depart Thailand this weekend and continue its journey back to the U.S.
After clambering down from buses, laden with luggage, several service members told The Associated Press they were excited to be in Thailand.
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they → expect → Thailand
Vendors and travel agents gathered outside the Hard Rock Hotel, the designated pickup and drop-off point for troops travelling from the Lincoln, which is docked nearby at Laem Chabang Port.
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which → gather → Port
They swarmed service members as they arrived, offering a range of souvenirs and services.
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they → swarm → souvenirs
Many sailors waved them away while waiting for their rides.
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sailors → wave → rides
Two other ships from the Lincoln's strike group are docked elsewhere in Thailand, with the destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. at Chonburi's Sriracha port and the cruiser USS Robert Smalls in Map Ta Phut in neighbouring Rayong province.
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ships → dock → province
A-ngoon Sombat travelled 200 kilometres between Pattaya and the central province of Ayutthaya to sell colourful braided bracelets to the visiting crew, as she does every time she hears a U.S. ship is coming for a port call in Chonburi province.
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ship → travel → province
She set up opposite the hotel entrance and had managed to make some sales, but said she is still unsure if business will be good this week.
"There are many vendors around.
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business → set → sales
It's really up to how lucky each of us are," she said.
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she → say → us
Dozens of service members could be spotted strolling around Pattaya's Terminal 21 mall with shopping bags in their hands as the afternoon sun was blazing outside.
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sun → spot → hands
A 20-year-old serving as a navigator aboard the Petersen, who declined to give his name because he was told not to speak to media while ashore, said the morale among his crew members was really high now that they had arrived in Thailand.
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they → serve → Thailand
The sailor said it was his first deployment for the U.S. Navy.
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it → say → Navy
He said it was a bit of an ordeal but he was happy to finally be on his way home.
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he → say → way
Hegseth pushes back on reports of poor conditions on USS Abraham Lincoln in Middle East
- Analysis
Can Trump's 'gunboat diplomacy' stop Iran from blocking the flow of oil?
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diplomacy → push → oil
Not likely, say experts
He declined to comment when asked about the reports about the conditions on the Lincoln.
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He → say → Lincoln
A spot just outside the Laem Chabang Port had turned into a small attraction by Wednesday evening, as people gathered to catch a glimpse of the Lincoln.
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people → turn → Lincoln
People arrived by car and motorcycle to peer through a mesh fence at the ship, which is as long as about three American football fields.
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which → arrive → fields
They took photos and videos and excitedly chatted with strangers about their chance to see the vessel.
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They → take → vessel
American Keith Eldridge, who has lived in Thailand for five years, travelled from the neighbouring province of Chachoengsao to see the ship.
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who → live → ship
He was too late to catch the Lincoln docking but found the viewing spot through a recommendation from other enthusiasts he met along the way.
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he → catch → way
He said it was impressive to be able to lay his eyes on this "engineering marvel."
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it → say → marvel
"When you get to look at something so big, wrapped up with so much technology, the radars, the sonars, the weapon systems, the propulsion systems, it is truly amazing that we can build it, float it, and we fight from it," he said.
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he → get → it
The Lincoln's commanding officer, Capt. Dan Keeler, said the ship will be heading home soon, but may make further supply stops.
uncertain
ship → say → stops
He declined to comment on the exact date the strike group is expected back in the U.S.
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group → decline → U.S.
The Aporia
