Hegseth Awards USS Abraham Lincoln Top Honour Before Record Deployment Ends

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday awarded the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln the US military’s highest unit honour as the aircraft carrier prepared to return to San Diego after a record-long deployment supporting the war against Iran.

Hegseth presented the Presidential Unit Citation to the Lincoln and accompanying ships for what he described as 40 days of combat operations and an “ironclad maritime blockade” against Iran under Operation Epic Fury, the Trump administration’s code name for the conflict.

The carrier spent a record 265 consecutive days at sea. Its unusually long deployment drew scrutiny over reported crew stress, mental health concerns and shortages of food and hygiene supplies.

The Lincoln left San Diego in late November, reached the Middle East in January and is due to arrive back at its home port on Thursday. It made a port stop in Thailand last month after more than 10 months at sea.

Hegseth acknowledged the strain of the deployment while telling sailors, “I'm the only thing standing between you and home.” He said his intention was to get out of the way once the carrier reached the dock.

The Navy previously faced questions over conditions aboard the Lincoln. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said in August that food supplies remained adequate, although limited opportunities for resupply briefly reduced meal choices from two options to one. Navy officials also said delays affected hygiene-product deliveries, though those supplies were prioritised.

The service recently told lawmakers that eight sailors attempted suicide during the deployment. Hegseth rejected efforts to portray the Lincoln as a symbol of low morale or dysfunction, saying the crew had demonstrated resilience and completed its mission.

According to the citation read by Hegseth, the Lincoln strike group carried out 3,693 combat missions, delivered 1.37 million pounds of ordnance, launched 450 Tomahawk missiles, shot down 77 one-way attack drones, sank 64 Iranian warships and destroyed 21 anti-ship cruise missiles.

The Lincoln is the second US carrier to receive the top unit award after an unusually long deployment supporting the Iran war. The USS Gerald R. Ford received the same honour after a 326-day deployment.

Two US carriers are currently assigned to the Middle East, the USS George Washington and USS George H W Bush. The USS Theodore Roosevelt and thousands of troops could join them as early as the end of October.