The USS Abraham Lincoln returns to San Diego, California, on October 10 after nearly a year at sea. The Abraham Lincoln is now expected to travel to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state for long-term maintenance. (US Navy/Mass Communication Spc. 3rd Class Aaron J. Rolle)

The USS Abraham Lincoln Is Back in Port—At Last

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Altogether, the Abraham Lincoln’s planned six-month deployment lasted 322 days, and might have lasted even longer if not for a morale crisis during the late summer.

The United States Navy’s supercarriers have been described as floating cities, as they house crews of more than 5,000 sailors and Marines. Each of the US Navy’s 11 nuclear-powered flattops runs on its own power grid, has medical and dental facilities, and ship stores. Still, life onboard a carrier isn’t exactly idyllic, as it offers little in the way of the workplace and home separation found in a normal city.

That point needs to be remembered as the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) arrived at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, on Thursday afternoon, ending its grueling 322-day deployment. The voyage was the second-longest time at sea for any aircraft carrier since the end of the Cold War, and it was far from a pleasure cruise for those on board.

As previously reported, much of the Lincoln’s recent mission was in the Middle East, where tensions remained at elevated levels, as CVN-72 supported combat operations against Iran. In addition, the crew had to deal with such issues as moldy showers, broken toilets and laundry facilities, no hot water, substandard meals, and a lack of access to basic necessities like soap and deodorant.

The proverbial voyage of the damned finally ended on Thursday, with families ready to........

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