US Navy sailors and Marines on the USS Abraham Lincoln have spoken out about their nearly nine-month deployment at sea, describing it as "the worst deployment that they have ever experienced". According to interviews with MS NOW's Priya Sridhar, many service members were exhausted and frustrated by the prolonged time away from home. The ship's crew has been without a port call for 286 days, but during their brief stay in Thailand, sailors prioritized reconnecting with loved ones over relaxation. The deployment has sparked concerns about its impact on Navy retention rates, particularly among lower-ranking sailors.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The USS Abraham Lincoln, a US aircraft carrier, docked in Pattaya, Thailand on Thursday, June (exact date unknown) after a record-breaking deployment of 286 days at sea without a port call. The crew, numbering around 5,000, had been supporting the US war against Iran and were reportedly experiencing deteriorating mental health, food shortages, and plumbing failures. Some sailors even attempted to jump overboard due to the harsh conditions.
Two US sailors were removed from Thailand's resort town of Pattaya after a drunken brawl in the early hours of Thursday near Walking Street, according to Thai police chief Colonel Anek Srathongyoo. The incident was described as "trivial" and the sailors were sent back to the ship without charges.
The USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment has been criticized by President Donald Trump, who said it was "not nearly long enough." However, families of those on board have spoken out about concerns over mental health and supply issues aboard the aircraft carrier. The US Navy downplayed any problems, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth characterized reports as "completely misrepresented."
The USS Abraham Lincoln is expected to depart Thailand this weekend and continue its journey back to the US. Meanwhile, fighting has intensified in the Gulf region between the US and Iran, with nearly 5,000 troops on board the USS Abraham Lincoln finally heading home after nearly 300 days of deployment.
Written for “US Military Presence in Thailand” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.
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The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 6148 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-07
U.S. service members assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln are speaking out about their record-long, nearly nine-month deployment at sea, during which they supported the ongoing Iran war.
asserted
they → assign → war
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier — some of whose crew had reportedly suffered from deteriorating mental health — laid anchor off Thailand this week, affording its 5,000 sailors and Marines their first port call in 286 days.
uncertain
some → suffer → days
While on shore in the resort town of Pattaya, some service members spoke with MS NOW Pentagon Correspondent Priya Sridhar, who recounted her discussions with them during a subsequent on-camera interview.
asserted
who → speak → interview
“Many of them told me that this was, in fact, the worst deployment that they have ever experienced,” said Sridhar, who formerly served as an officer in the Navy Reserve, according to Mediaite.
uncertain
who → tell → Mediaite
“It was incredibly hard, and many of them expressed to me that they actually wish that they hadn’t even done a port call at this point.”
asserted
they → express → point
“They wanted to just go directly home,” she continued.
asserted
she → want → ?
“And another thing they told me is they are afraid that because of this war, these really long deployments without any port calls are going to become normalized.”
asserted
deployments → tell → calls
She added that some service members fear that the ordeal will have a “huge impact” on the Navy’s retention rates, particularly for lower-ranking sailors.
asserted
ordeal → add → sailors
In Pattaya, where the service members are staying until this weekend, there are ample opportunities to relax, including beaches, night clubs and fast-food restaurants that offer a taste of home.
asserted
that → stay → home
But, according to Sridhar, many sailors and Marines are more focused on reconnecting with their loved ones.
uncertain
sailors → accord → ones
“The, you know, major priority that they told me they wanted to do while they were here on shore was to FaceTime and see their kids, see their spouses and see their parents,” the reporter said.
asserted
reporter → know → parents
“So they finally got a chance to do that after nine and a half months.”
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they → get → months
The Independent has contacted the Navy for comment.
asserted
Independent → contact → comment
The Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, began its deployment in November, heading from San Diego to the Indo-Pacific region.
asserted
Lincoln → power → region
It was rerouted to the Middle East early this year to support the ongoing Iran war.
asserted
It → reroute → war
The vessel generated nationwide attention after reports emerged of food supply shortages and mental health struggles among the 5,000 sailors and Marines on board.
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reports → generate → board
Several service members even attempted to jump overboard, family members told The Military Times.
asserted
members → attempt → Times
Last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described reports of poor conditions as “completely misrepresented.”
asserted
Hegseth → describe → conditions
The ship will depart for the United States after its port call in Thailand.
asserted
ship → depart → Thailand
