According to a report by Reuters on August 25th, a Thai official stated that the U.S. Navy's USS Lincoln aircraft carrier, which has been stationed in the Middle East for nine months, is expected to come into port in Thailand next week.
Recently, the USS Lincoln has attracted attention due to its poor living and sanitary conditions, as well as low morale among its crew members.
The American newspaper The New York Times reported on the 20th that the USS Lincoln has set sail from the Middle Eastern waters and will return to its home port in San Diego, California, USA.
According to anonymous Thai officials, the USS Lincoln, which carries about 5,000 sailors and Marine Corps personnel, will stay in Thailand to allow the crew to rest and enjoy themselves after a long sea voyage.
Regarding the aforementioned message, spokespersons for the Royal Thai Navy and the US Embassy in Thailand did not respond to requests for comment immediately.
The Lincoln was departed from its home port of San Diego in November last year, and subsequently reassigned to the Middle East to support the United States' military operations against Iran.
According to American media reports, during the 272-day deployment, except for brief resupply stops in Guam and Oman, the USS Lincoln remained on sea duty most of the time. Approximately 5,000 sailors on board did not receive any regular rest periods.
Previously, it was reported that the high-intensity combat schedule and harsh living conditions of the USS Lincoln had led to low morale among its crew members, with many individuals experiencing mental breakdowns and attempting to jump into the sea.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagel said that the reports were "completely distorted" regarding the actual situation on board.
