Hegseth visits the long-deployed USS Lincoln to bestow award before ship returns home

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the USS Abraham Lincoln as it approached San Diego to award the crew the Presidential Unit Citation following a record-breaking deployment. The ship spent over 300 days at sea, primarily supporting operations against Iran, including 'Operation Epic Fury.' The deployment was marked by significant combat achievements—such as thousands of sorties and the destruction of Iranian vessels—but also faced intense scrutiny over crew welfare. Reports surfaced regarding supply shortages, mental health struggles, and eight suicide attempts among the crew. During his visit, Hegseth praised the crew's resilience and 'warrior ethos' while criticizing media coverage that he claimed focused on dysfunction rather than the mission's success.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the USS Abraham Lincoln as it approached San Diego to award the crew the Presidential Unit Citation following a record-breaking deployment. The ship spent over 300 days at sea, primarily supporting operations against Iran, including 'Operation Epic Fury.' The deployment was marked by significant combat achievements—such as thousands of sorties and the destruction of Iranian vessels—but also faced intense scrutiny over crew welfare. Reports surfaced regarding supply shortages, mental health struggles, and eight suicide attempts among the crew. During his visit, Hegseth praised the crew's resilience and 'warrior ethos' while criticizing media coverage that he claimed focused on dysfunction rather than the mission's success.