USS Abraham Lincoln Crew Gets First Rest Day After 286 Days at Sea

After 286 days at sea, the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln finally received a rest-and-recovery day. The US Navy aircraft carrier docked in eastern Thailand, where sailors and Marines arrived in civilian clothes at a hotel in Pattaya.

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It’s been so quiet these days. I hope with their arrival they would drive my sales up.

The visit offered a break from a deployment that had raised concerns about mental health and worsening conditions aboard the ship. Photographs showed significant surface rust on the carrier, while reports indicated that the crew could face a possible redeployment until 2027.

For Pattaya businesses, the arrival brought hopes of relief. Clothes seller Kadsalin Ketpa said trade had been quiet and hoped the sailors’ presence would increase sales. Food seller Saroch said visits by US military personnel were good for business because they came to drink, have fun and relax.

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They're here for drinks, having fun, and letting loose.

Rear Admiral Robert E. Loughran, commander of Carrier Strike Group 3, called the stop a chance for the sailors and Marines to “rest and recharge.” He praised what the strike group had accomplished and said he was proud of the professionalism and expertise shown during its operations.

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Our arrival in Laem Chabang provides a well-deserved opportunity for our Sailors and Marines to rest and recharge.

Families also described the strain of the long deployment. Shakeira Fairfax travelled from New Jersey to meet her 25-year-old daughter, Jade, a Lincoln crew member. Fairfax said there had been moments when morale fell, contact was limited and she feared for her daughter’s safety. “There was a period of silence,” she said. “It was an uncertain time; it was a scary time. It was difficult.”

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There was a period of silence. It was an uncertain time; it was a scary time. It was difficult.