Overview
- The Abraham Lincoln pulled into San Diego on Oct. 8 after roughly 321–322 days away, including about 265–286 consecutive days at sea without a port call.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth presented a Presidential Unit Citation that credited the strike group with thousands of combat sorties, hundreds of Tomahawk missile launches and dozens of enemy vessels disabled.
- Navy officials acknowledged constrained replenishments during combat operations that at times reduced meal options and led to shortages of hygiene and plumbing supplies on board.
- Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told lawmakers that eight sailors across the strike group attempted suicide during the deployment and families described a mix of joyful reunions and deep worry; 122 sailors met their children in person for the first time on return.
- The Lincoln will go to Bremerton for planned maintenance before year’s end and returning families, lawmakers and advocates are pressing the Pentagon for reviews of deployment extensions, oversight of sustainment and improved reintegration services.