Pete Hegseth Welcomes USS Abraham Lincoln Crew Following Extended Wartime Deployment

Pete Hegseth commended the USS Abraham Lincoln crew following a record-long deployment shadowed by welfare concerns.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Wednesday, presenting the crew with a high-level military commendation. The carrier is concluding a record-setting deployment conducted in support of military operations involving Iran before returning to San Diego. Hegseth praised the resilience of the sailors after an unusually prolonged tour that had drawn outside scrutiny over on-board suicide attempts.

• The USS Abraham Lincoln is scheduled to dock at its home base in San Diego on Thursday.
• The carrier's tour set duration records while deployed for operations connected to the conflict with Iran.
• The prolonged mission had attracted public concern and scrutiny following suicide attempts among personnel on board.