After 270 Days at Sea, USS Lincoln Sailors Arrive in Pattaya for Shore Leave
The crew of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, totaling about 5,000 sailors, arrived in Pattaya, Thailand for their first shore leave in roughly nine months, with groups disembarking in civilian clothes and vessels like the USS Higgins also arriving. Local officials welcomed them as Pattaya’s tourism and red-light districts, historically linked to US military presence, were highlighted in the coverage. Captain Dan Keeler acknowledged a disconnect between home reporting and onboard conditions, citing ongoing supply issues and questions about reported suicides as an open investigation, while sailors faced restrictions on certain areas and activities during their leave.