Carrier Reaches Port Liberty The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) docked at Laem Chabang, Thailand, marking the cr
Carrier Reaches Port Liberty The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) docked at Laem Chabang, Thailand, marking the crew's first port visit granting shore liberty since its deployment started. The ship originally departed its homeport at Naval Base San Diego, California, on November 21, 2025, embarking on an intensive Western Pacific and Middle Eastern tour. Initial transit across the Pacific included a brief, strictly operational logistics stop in Guam on December 11, with the vessel sailing west the next day. The carrier crossed into the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations on January 26, 2026, where it entered high-tempo combat duties. For months, the Lincoln served as the centerpiece of American power projection in the Middle East, conducting sustained air operations and maritime security patrols countering aggressive actions from Iran. The ship’s grueling presence came to a close roughly two weeks ago after the USS George Washington (CVN-73) arrived on station to relieve the carrier strike group, clearing Lincoln to turn east toward home. The arrival in Thailand concludes one of the most demanding and uninterrupted operational stretches executed by a United States carrier strike group in modern naval history. Thousands of sailors and aviators aboard are now getting their first prolonged period of rest, recreational leave, and regional cultural immersion after months of rigorous, around-the-clock combat readiness at sea.