Coronado’s USS Abraham Lincoln is finally on its way home after a deployment of just about nine months in the Middle East.
The Lincoln departed Naval Air Station North Island at the end of November with no public attention, but was quickly directed to assist in the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, most notably being used to block the Strait of Hormuz in recent months. In February, the U.S. military acknowledged that a Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone as it “aggressively approached” the ship.
After its end-of-November departure, it’s a welcomed announcement to hear the ship is finally returning home. The deployment was record-long, with no regular port calls, meaning no chance for sailors to get off the ship and little opportunity for repairs and resupply.
Which are all points that have been especially emphasized in the news recently.
Reports of mental health crises due to its extended deployment, food shortages and exhaustion came to light during a town hall meeting on Aug. 6 at Naval Air Station North Island, according to MS Now, where several family members pleaded for answers from Navy leaders after hearing about conditions on board the carrier.
Meanwhile, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said in a statement posted to X that the media is being “dishonest” and “trying to paint our warriors as victims.
“Not only is that dishonest but it takes away the focus on the enemy and the threat it poses against our nation, people, and way of life,” he added.
Amid these varying perspectives, it’s important for us as media consumers to take a beat. For one, let’s be thankful for the sacrifice of our over 5,000 U.S. servicemembers on board the ship – not to mention the sacrifice of their loved ones at home – and be thankful that the Lincoln is enroute home.
Secondly, it is an incredible feat to be able to accomplish nine months of operation without port calls, all while worrying about air threats. This is war afterall, and resources are bound to be limited. In many ways, this accomplishment has surely spurred a high sense of purpose and morale among the sailors. While it’s important we don’t ignore the bad reports coming through, it’s equally as important to celebrate the good stories that we aren’t hearing.
Let’s reserve judgements until we have a more complete picture. And thank you, to those deployed and to their families, for all of your sacrifices.
