USS Abraham Lincoln to visit port in Thailand after more than 250 days at sea
Thai navy says ‘routine’ visit’ will allow personnel to rest and recuperate amid reports of poor conditions onboard
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is set to make a temporary stop in Thailand next week as it heads back to the United States, Thai navy officials said, after spending more than 250 consecutive days at sea supporting US operations against Iran amid recent reports of poor living conditions and low morale onboard the vessel.
The Lincoln left the Middle East several days ago after being relieved by the USS George Washington, and is now heading home to San Diego. A Thai navy official told Reuters this week that the carrier was expected to make a brief port visit in Thailand next week for the crew to rest and recuperate before continuing their journey home.
“The stop is a routine port visit intended to allow personnel to rest and recuperate … as well as to receive logistical support,” the spokesperson for the Thai navy said.
Earlier this week, the Thai navy said that three ships from a US navy carrier strike group would be making a brief port call in eastern Thailand to allow personnel to rest. No military exercises would take place during the visit, the statement added. The Thai navy did not identify the vessels or provide a date.
The planned stop comes as the Lincoln’s deployment has faced scrutiny in recent weeks amid reports of poor living conditions onboard among its crew. Family members of sailors have described shortages of supplies and water, plumbing problems, low morale, and worsening mental health among the roughly 5,000 personnel on the carrier. The Navy Times also reported that there had been several attempts by sailors to jump overboard.
On Wednesday, the wife of a sailor who jumped overboard told MS Now that her husband, who she said had since returned to the US, was now facing disciplinary action from the navy.
Charging documents viewed by MS Now reportedly accuse the sailor of violating Article 83 for “malingering”, which is defined as someone who, “with the intent to avoid work, duty, or service”, fakes “illness, physical disablement, mental lapse, or mental derangement” or “intentionally inflicts self-injury”.
The document also reportedly accuses the sailor of violating Article 86 for “absence without leave” which is when the service member, without authority, “fails to go to his appointed place of duty at the time prescribed”, “goes from that place” or “absents himself or remains absent from his unit, organization, or place of duty at which he is required to be at the time prescribed”.
The couple, both 19, have a three-year-old son and welcomed a daughter in February while he was deployed. His wife told the outlet that he had requested paternity leave but was denied.
The sailor is now reportedly facing non-judicial punishment, which MS Now notes is typically used by commanding officers to address minor rule-breaking without a court martial.
In a statement to the Guardian on Friday, a navy official said “our first responsibility following this incident was the Sailor’s safety and well-being”.
“He was safely recovered, medically evacuated from the ship and evaluated by medical professionals,” they said. “He continues to have access to appropriate care and support.”
They added that “medical care and administrative or disciplinary processes are separate, and one does not preclude the other”, and “the command has the discretion to address misconduct based on the totality of the circumstances”.
“Because this involves an individual Sailor’s protected medical information and an ongoing personnel matter, we cannot discuss the specific evidence, medical care or ongoing proceedings,” the navy added.
The Lincoln left San Diego on 21 November bound for the Pacific, but was redirected to the Middle East. It has since spent more than 250 consecutive days without a significant port visit.
Reports about the conditions onboard have prompted several Democratic lawmakers to demand answers from the Pentagon.