Lincoln returns to San Diego after nearly 11 months
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Sailors wave to friends and family members on Thursday. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
After more than 10 long months, the USS Abraham Lincoln and its 5,000-plus sailors are finally home.
The big picture: The San Diego-based aircraft carrier broke a Navy record by spending more than 260 days at sea without a port call, attracting media attention and scrutiny for conditions on board.
- Eight sailors attempted suicide during the deployment, which involved combat in Iran.
Driving the news: The carrier made it home Thursday and was greeted triumphantly.
- 64 fathers were among the first sailors off the ship to meet children born while they were away, per the AP.
- Among those was air traffic control officer Brent Ledbetter, who actually replaced his wife, also an air traffic control officer who was originally supposed to deploy on the Lincoln.
- Families started lining up at 6am to greet the carrier, hours before its noon arrival.
By the numbers: The Lincoln saw more than 13,000 aviation sorties, 28,500 flight hours, 72 replenishments at sea and 4 million meals served during its deployment, according to CBS8.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joined the crew on Wednesday before their arrival and awarded them a Presidential Unit Citation, the highest possible award for valor for an entire military unit.
