National Defense

USS Abraham Lincoln Returns Home After One Of Longest Deployments In Naval History

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Gray Gibson)

The USS Abraham Lincoln is returning to its home port of San Diego, California on Wednesday after a 320-day deployment to the Middle East in support of the Iran war.

The Nimintz-Class ship departed from Naval Base San Diego on Nov. 25, 2025 and began military operations in the Middle East on Feb. 28, Military Times reported. The deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln raised questions about morale and mental health.

On Aug. 6, family members of sailors held an informal town hall in San Diego where they raised concerns about food shortages and self-harm among the ranks according to Military Times. On September 22nd, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao sent a letter to Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, affirming that eight service members aboard the ship have tried to kill themselves.

“Since the beginning of LINCOLN’s deployment, there have been a total of eight suicide attempts across the strike group–this number includes the LINCOLN crew and Sailors from the carrier wing, strike group, and destroyer squadron staff, escorting destroyers, and all embarked aviation squadrons,” the letter states.

The Office of the Secretary of the Navy did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

The Secretary of Defense is expected to meet with the homeward bound sailors.

“Secretary [Pete] Hegseth will also speak to the crew on the ship, participate in PT and eat lunch with warfighters in the area,” according to a Department of War press briefing.

The USS Abraham Lincoln comes in second place with the USS Gerald Ford for the longest carrier deployment since the Vietnam War.