The USS Abraham Lincoln crew received their first rest-and-recuperation day on Wednesday after 286 days at sea, deployed in the Middle East, with photos showing significant surface rust amid reports of mental health concerns, deteriorating onboard conditions, and a possible redeployment until 2027.
The ship was docked in eastern Thailand, with busloads of sailors and Marines wearing civilian clothes, many smiling and waving, arriving hours later at a hotel in the resort city of Pattaya, about 150 km (93 miles) southeast of Bangkok.
On the eve of the Lincoln's arrival, Pattaya street vendors near the city's infamous "Walking Street" nightlife zone were excited by the prospect of a boost in sales.
"It's been so quiet these days," said clothes seller Kadsalin Ketpa, 43. "I hope with their arrival they would drive my sales up."
Food seller Saroch, 45, told Reuters that port visits by the US military were good for business. "They're here for drinks, having fun, and letting loose," Saroch said.
"Our arrival in Laem Chabang provides a well-deserved opportunity for our Sailors and Marines to rest and recharge," the commander of Carrier Strike Group 3, Rear Admiral Robert E. Loughran, said in a statement.
"What this strike group has accomplished is truly historic. I could not be prouder of the exceptional professionalism and expertise demonstrated by every member of this team during our operations."
Concerns of mental health amid reports of a new deployment
Shakeira Fairfax flew in from New Jersey and was waiting outside the Pattaya hotel to meet her 25-year-old daughter Jade, a crew member on the Lincoln.
She explained how there were moments during the long deployment after the start of the Iran war when morale was low, when contact was limited, and she feared for her daughter's safety.
"There was a period of silence," she said. "It was an uncertain time; it was a scary time. It was difficult, it was definitely difficult, but she has a support system," she told reporters.
"I just can't wait to see her smile. I can't wait to hear 'Mom'; I know that's the first thing she's gonna say," she said.
Pentagon expected to extend deployment amid supply chain disruptions report
And while the crew is expected to rest while the ship undergoes maintenance, a report by The Wall Street Journal revealed that the Pentagon plans to extend deployment in the Middle East until at least 2027.
Sources said the military presence is intended to preserve President Donald Trump's ability to choose between continued economic pressure, limited military operations, and broader escalation.
Some aides have warned Trump that expanding the conflict beyond the recent exchanges of strikes could hurt Republican candidates in the November midterm elections, according to the report. Trump has maintained that electoral considerations are not guiding his military decisions.
The decision also comes amid reports by The New York Times about problems in the logistics chain to supply troops in the Middle East, with strikes on critical bases in the region forcing the US to use naval routes for resupply missions.
According to the report, the operations in the region require some 420,000 meals per week, which are brought to the soldiers using some 30 million liters of fuel.
The report noted that the strikes on a key logistical base in Bahrain forced the US to use the island of Diego Garcia (located some 3,500 kilometers from the conflict zone) and Singapore (6,000 kilometers away) as logistical points.
Shir Perets contributed to this report.