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🇱🇹 Lithuania /Conflict & Security

After an Unprecedented Mission, US Sailors Let Loose in Thailand

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • USS Abraham Lincoln sailors arrived in Thailand after a record 286 days at sea, amid reports of worsening living conditions and psychological problems aboard the carrier.
  • Sailors described poor food and the strain of sustained wartime operations, while the captain said reports about onboard conditions had been greatly exaggerated.
  • In Pattaya, many sought ordinary comforts, including manicures, new socks, fast food and gifts for family.

There was not a single cherry-red chair free at Colour Nail in the Thai resort city of Pattaya on Thursday morning. US sailors from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, men and women alike, had taken them for a little time ashore after a record 286 days at sea.

Their arrival followed reports of deteriorating living conditions and psychological problems among the crew, including suicide attempts. The reports added fuel to criticism of US President Donald Trump’s war with Iran. The carrier’s captain acknowledged that the several thousand crew members had lacked fresh fruit and vegetables, but said reports of poor living conditions had been greatly exaggerated.

Like being locked in your bedroom with your whole family.

· AdamHe described the confined experience of living aboard the aircraft carrier.

Some sailors interviewed after coming ashore described a difficult mission. Adam, a pseudonym used by The Guardian because the sailors had been told not to discuss onboard conditions with the media, said life on the ship felt “like being locked in your bedroom with your whole family.” He said friendship with fellow crew members and finding people who shared his outlook helped offset the hardship.

More than once I nearly choked.

· AdamHe described eating undercooked beef and raw potatoes aboard the ship.

Food was his biggest test. “More than once I nearly choked,” he said, describing undercooked beef and raw potatoes. Adam said conditions had worsened not simply because of the mission’s unprecedented length, but because of wartime conditions during Operation Epic Fury. Marco agreed, saying conditions inevitably declined during periods of intense operations because stopping to resupply would be too dangerous.

Trent said the hardest part was continuing despite the difficulties and not losing morale. Dane told The Guardian that returning to land after his first mission felt like a huge weight had lifted from his shoulders. Lester said it had been difficult, but “we had a job to do.” He first ate until he was full and joked that “after all this, Thai food and I will probably become best friends.”

We had a job to do.

· LesterHe described how the crew continued despite the difficult conditions.

For others, the pleasures were deliberately ordinary. Tim went to a Vans store looking for “simple things like new socks.” David bought his wife a plush Hello Kitty toy at H&M. Adam ordered two burgers at Burger King and planned to have a suit made. One unnamed naval representative summed up the effect of the long mission this way: “Some adapt to it, but certainly not everyone.”

Some adapt to it, but certainly not everyone.

· Unnamed naval representativeHe described the different effects of the unusually long mission on the crew.
About this summary

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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