WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth boarded the USS Abraham Lincoln on Wednesday, presenting the crew with the Presidential Unit Citation—the military’s highest honor for a unit—on the eve of the carrier’s return to San Diego following a record-breaking deployment in the ongoing war against Iran.
The prestigious award, typically reserved for extraordinary heroism in combat, was bestowed upon the Lincoln and its accompanying strike group for what Hegseth described as “40 days of combat operations and an ironclad maritime blockade against Iran in support of Operation Epic Fury.”
The carrier’s return marks the end of a grueling 265 uninterrupted days at sea. During its more than 10-month mission, the ship became the focal point of national scrutiny regarding the toll of extended deployments. Reports of significant crew stress, mental health concerns, and logistical shortages—including scarcities in food and hygiene products—raised questions about the sustainability of the Trump administration’s current naval strategy in the Middle East.
Addressing the crew ahead of the ship’s arrival in port on Thursday, Hegseth acknowledged the strain of the long mission. “I’m the only thing standing between you and home,” Hegseth told the sailors, adding that his goal was to “get out of the way” once the ship docked so the crew could finally reunite with their families.
Hegseth explicitly pushed back against narratives characterizing the Lincoln’s deployment as a failure. “What makes the U.S. Navy and all these sailors different is that you adapt and that you’re resilient and you overcome,” he said, rejecting labels that sought to frame the ship as a “symbol of dysfunction or low morale.”
The deployment figures cited in the award underscored the intensity of the campaign. The strike group carried out 3,693 combat missions, launched 450 Tomahawk cruise missiles, and delivered 1.37 million pounds of ordnance. Furthermore, the crew successfully defended against significant threats, sinking 64 Iranian warships and shooting down 77 one-way attack drones.
The Lincoln is the second carrier to receive the Presidential Unit Citation under these conditions. In May, Hegseth honored the crew of the USS Gerald R. Ford following a 326-day deployment, which remains the longest carrier mission in the post-Vietnam era.
Despite these operational achievements, the human cost has been notable. The Navy confirmed to lawmakers that eight sailors aboard the Lincoln attempted suicide during the deployment. While experts note that this figure represents a small percentage of a 6,000-person strike group, the incidents ignited a broader debate regarding the mental health impacts of “record-long” maritime operations.
The USS Abraham Lincoln’s return does not signal a drawdown in the region. The carrier has already been relieved by the USS George Washington, and U.S. officials suggest that a third carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, may bolster the presence in the Middle East as early as late October.
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