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US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln returned to San Diego on Thursday after supporting the US war against Iran. The aircraft carrier spent a record 265 consecutive days at sea amid reports of difficult conditions for its crew.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the carrier on Wednesday to present its crew with the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest military award given to a unit.
He rejected suggestions that the ship had become “a symbol of dysfunction or a symbol of low morale or a symbol of a failed mission.”
The carrier attracted national attention following reports of stress, mental health concerns and shortages of food and hygiene products during its deployment.
The Navy initially downplayed the problems but later acknowledged some issues on board, including reduced meal options due to limited resupply opportunities.
Additionally, the Navy told lawmakers that eight sailors had attempted suicide during the deployment. Experts said the figure was relatively low for a strike group of around 6,000 personnel over 10 months.
The Lincoln left California in November 2025 for duty in the South China Sea and was rerouted to the Middle East before US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began in February 2026.
