USS Abraham Lincoln sailors reunite with loved ones after nearly a year away

Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Defense Secretary, visited the USS Abraham Lincoln on Wednesday before it returned to its homeport in San Diego, California, after a record-breaking 265-day deployment supporting operations against Iran. During his visit, Hegseth awarded the ship's crew with the Presidential Unit Citation, one of the highest honors for military units typically reserved for combat achievements. The Lincoln’s extended mission drew national attention due to reports of supply shortages and deteriorating mental health among its crew members. Despite these issues, Hegseth praised the resilience of the sailors and dismissed criticisms as attempts to portray the deployment negatively. The carrier's return marks the end of a 10-month deployment, with no port calls made during its last 265 days at sea, setting a new record for continuous deployment since the Cold War era.