USS Lincoln arrives at San Diego base after record-breaking deployment, with families gathered to greet crew – live

The USS Abraham Lincoln returned to its homeport in San Diego on October 8, 2026, following a 10-month deployment to the Middle East. The mission, which was extended twice during the conflict with Iran, set a record of 265 days between port calls and was the second-longest aircraft carrier deployment since the Cold War. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth greeted the approximately 5,000 crew members, awarding the carrier strike group the Presidential Unit Citation for its combat record, which included dropping over 1.3 million pounds of ordnance. The deployment was also marked by challenges, including supply shortages and mental health concerns among the crew.

The USS Abraham Lincoln returned to its homeport in San Diego on October 8, 2026, following a 10-month deployment to the Middle East. The mission, which was extended twice during the conflict with Iran, set a record of 265 days between port calls and was the second-longest aircraft carrier deployment since the Cold War. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth greeted the approximately 5,000 crew members, awarding the carrier strike group the Presidential Unit Citation for its combat record, which included dropping over 1.3 million pounds of ordnance. The deployment was also marked by challenges, including supply shortages and mental health concerns among the crew.