According to ABC News, on September 2, the U.S. aircraft carrier 'Lincoln' set a record by being deployed at sea for 286 consecutive days, and finally arrived in Phuket, Thailand. On September 3 local time, relatives of some crew members made public statements.
The father of 20-year-old sailor Daniels, Ratig, said that although he did not support this war, he supported his son and his choice to serve.
"Imagine, if you were Dennis, or one of the 5,000 young people on board, imagine what you'd feel when the President publicly states that your time on board is not enough. What would be your feeling? This statement is terrible and depressing, it makes America look both weak and foolish. It is so frustrating, I find it difficult to imagine this will boost morale of soldiers." Rattig said.
Daniells' mother, Carver, said that she never got in touch with her son after he left for sea deployment. She mentioned that her son had privately told her about some problems with the supply of materials on the ship in April, but did not mention that he was affected personally.
The most important thing is knowing when he can go home. I think this is what's most important of all. Kapfer said.
Maggie lives in Chicago, and her son is also serving on the USS Lincoln. She said that when she received news of her son's arrival at a port this morning, she felt "great relief." She added that after her son boarded the USS Lincoln, it became difficult for her to contact him, and she kept worrying about his living conditions on the ship.
They could not complain about this job being terrible on their lips, and they simply walked away. The people in power should take care of them, but they ignored them completely, even the food was almost gone, this is unacceptable.” Makali said.
The Lincoln is berthed in Pattaya, Thailand. Eastern IC
This stop is the first time in over five years that the USS Lincoln has made a full stop to rest since it left in November 2025 to carry out deployment tasks in the Middle East. U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis has stated that the USS Lincoln has encountered missile and drone attacks multiple times in real combat situations.
The commander of the third aircraft carrier strike group, Lockren, issued a statement on the 2nd: 'Arriving at Linfan Bay, we have provided a much-deserved opportunity for rest and recharge for the naval and marine officers and soldiers aboard the ships.'
After a long period of wandering and combat, an article in the Star Flag News on August 11 revealed shortages of food and drinking water on the ship, as well as deteriorating mental health among the crew members. Some people even attempted to jump into the sea. Subsequently, the US military sent three supply ships to ‘rescue’ the situation, while also firing the editor-in-chief of the Star Flag News.
On the second day, when it entered the Thai port, it was evident that the 'Lincoln' had been eroded by harsh maritime conditions for a long time. The ship's exterior was in disrepair, and its hull was covered with rust.
The US Navy denies reports that conditions on the ships are concerning. President Trump also said that the deployment “has not been long enough.” Haggess said that reports of poor conditions on the ships “are completely false.”
According to the U.S. Central Command, as of August 20th, the USS Washington aircraft carrier has taken over from the USS Lincoln in operations in the Middle East.
