USS Abraham Lincoln hits the streets of Pattaya

Upon arrival, buses carrying crew members streamed into Pattaya, a city known for its beaches and nightlife. The city’s Mayor Poramet Ngampichet expressed hope that the port call would boost the local economy, stating, 市長ポラメット・ナムピチェット「パッタヤが重要なバケーションスポットとして認識されることを私たちは目指してきました。」 He also noted that the destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. would dock at a different port. However, the service members were banned from certain recreational activities, including parasailing and marijuana use, despite Thailand’s legalization of medical cannabis in 2022.

USS Lincoln crew hits the streets of Thailand’s Pattaya

Concerns about the crew’s mental health and food shortages aboard the ship had been raised in August. The Navy downplayed these issues, while President Donald Trump commented that the deployment was not nearly long enough. The ship’s extended mission, which lasted 286 days, included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 260 days. The crew’s arrival in Thailand marked a port call during their deployment, with the ship expected to return to San Diego in a few weeks after a journey that takes just over a month.

米海軍空母USS Abraham Lincoln乗組員の父がフロリダ州で移民局に拘束される

The USS Abraham Lincoln was relieved by the Asia-based USS George Washington aircraft carrier, which arrived in the region and was now operating in the Middle East, according to U.S. Central Command. Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, visited the Lincoln a day earlier and announced to the crew, 米国中央軍司令官ブレッド・クーパー「あなたたちは歴史に残るパフォーマンスを遂行し、今や帰国する時です。」 The Lincoln’s return was confirmed by a U.S. official, who stated the ship has been sailing home for a few days and will be back in San Diego in a few weeks.

Trump大統領、海軍長官にHung Cao氏を指名 イラン戦の最中に発表

USS Lincoln crew hits streets of Thai beach city

Thousands of service members were expected to visit Pattaya. Vendors and travel agents gathered outside the Hard Rock Hotel, the designated pickup and drop-off point for troops traveling from the Lincoln, which is docked nearby at Laem Chabang port. Several service members expressed excitement about being in Thailand, though the exact date the strike group is expected back in the U.S. was not commented on by the ship’s commanding officer, Capt. Dan Keeler. The Lincoln’s journey back to the U.S. would follow its departure from Thailand this weekend.

A banner hung over a local bar near a beach read 「全米軍関係者へようこそ。ご奉仕に感謝します。」 Thai officials emphasized that the event would provide economic benefits to Pattaya, which has long sought to position itself as a key destination for U.S. military visits. The city’s mayor reiterated his support for future visits, whether for a drill or a vacation, before they go back to the U.S.

米空母がパタヤに寄港、270日超の長期航海を経て乗組員が休息へ

Thailand anticipates USS Lincoln visit after Middle East deployment

The Lincoln’s deployment in the Middle East was part of the U.S. war against Iran. The ship’s extended time at sea, which included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 260 days, drew attention from observers. While the Navy downplayed any problems, concerns about the mental health among the crew as well as shortages of key food supplies aboard persisted. The ship’s return to Thailand for a port call underscored the deployment’s length after months at sea.

As the crew prepared to continue its journey back to the U.S., the focus shifted to their return home. The USS Abraham Lincoln’s journey marked the continuation of its return after a lengthy deployment in the Middle East, with the crew making a port call in Pattaya. The port call highlighted the complex interplay between military operations, international relations, and the well-being of service members on extended deployments.