Pete Hegseth Awards Presidential Unit Citation to USS Abraham Lincoln

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited the USS Abraham Lincoln on October 7 as the aircraft carrier returned to its home port at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California. Hegseth awarded the Carrier Strike Group the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism following a record-setting 321-day deployment that began in November 2025. The mission included 265 continuous days at sea without a port call.

Redirected to the Middle East in February 2026 to support U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran, the strike group executed 3,693 combat missions, sank 64 Iranian warships, and launched 450 Tomahawk cruise missiles. Operations included airstrikes against Iranian targets and a maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The deployment was marked by severe challenges, including supply shortages caused by an Iranian attack on a U.S. Navy base in Bahrain. Reports of deteriorating mental health emerged, with Acting Navy Secretary Cao Ba Hung confirming eight suicide attempts among the crew. While the Trump administration and Hegseth characterized the crew as resilient and downplayed morale issues, Navy leaders acknowledged limited meal options resulting from combat operations.