Iran claims U.S. defeat as concerns grow over conditions aboard Navy ships
Sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are finally expected to head home after the aircraft carrier spent a record 244 days at sea without stopping at a port.
(NBC)- Sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are finally expected to head home after the aircraft carrier spent a record 244 days at sea without stopping at a port.
The Lincoln, which has most recently been carrying out strikes against Iran, is expected to be replaced by another Navy aircraft carrier and begin its journey home in the coming weeks, according to a U.S. official.
The carrier had initially been scheduled to return in May.
Two U.S. officials told NBC News there have been growing complaints from service members and their families about deteriorating conditions aboard the ship.
Danielle Rappa, whose son is serving aboard the Lincoln, said the extended deployment has taken a toll on his mental health.
“This is a young man who can tolerate an enormous amount,” Rappa said. “When he starts describing his life to his mother as American Horror Story and talking about being completely exhausted — I listen.”
Complaints have included limited meal portions. A U.S. official also said one sailor went overboard during the deployment but was quickly rescued.
Families say the extended deployment has also forced sailors to miss major moments at home.
Melanie Stowe, the mother of a sailor, said one service member will miss her daughter’s 16th birthday at the end of August.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked the sailors for their service while pushing back against reports about conditions aboard the carrier, calling them “completely misrepresented.”
“We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment,” Hegseth said.
The carrier’s expected return comes as the war with Iran continues. President Donald Trump has increasingly emphasized economic pressure in an effort to force Tehran into a deal.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said tougher sanctions are coming, promising measures unlike anything previously used to economically isolate a country.
