In this handout image provided by the U.S. Navy, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) is underway December 21, 2004 in the waters of Western Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Patrick M. Bonafede/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
The USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in eastern Thailand on Wednesday, giving thousands of U.S. sailors and Marines a long-awaited break after one of the Navy’s most demanding deployments in recent history.
RELATED: Pentagon pushes back on reports of poor conditions aboard USS Abraham Lincoln
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The aircraft carrier docked at Laem Chabang port in Chonburi province after spending 286 days at sea, including a record-setting stretch of more than 250 consecutive days without a full port visit.
The ship, carrying roughly 5,000 service members, had been deployed to the Middle East in support of the U.S. military operations against Iran. The ship was relieved in August by the USS George Washington, allowing the Abraham Lincoln to begin its journey back toward its U.S. home port.
Big picture view:
The deployment has drawn attention because of its extraordinary length and concerns about conditions aboard the ship. Reports have cited deteriorating mental health among some crew members as well as shortages of food and hygiene supplies.
The ship itself showed visible signs of extended deployment as it entered port, including areas of apparent rust along its hull and near portions of the flight deck.
What they're saying:
Capt. Dan Keeler, the ship’s commanding officer, said the wear was normal following such a lengthy deployment. "It's normal for a long deployment."
Reports of poor conditions aboard USS Abraham Lincoln
Both the Navy Times and Stars and Stripes published articles after speaking with the family members of service members on board that several sailors have made multiple attempts to jump overboard and are experiencing low morale, exhaustion, and issues with their mental health and suicidal thoughts.
The other side:
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pushed back on the reports, saying they were misrepresented, telling reporters, "We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in those high seas in those austere conditions with less port calls — it's incredible."
Three staffers with Stars and Stripes, the military-based news outlet, were fired after they say they were targeted for expressing their personal views regarding the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln.
USS Abraham Lincoln history
The USS Abraham Lincoln’s keel was laid Nov. 3, 1984 at Newport News, Virginia and the ship was christened less than four years later and commissioned on November 11, 1989, in Norfolk, Virginia.
The ship is America’s fifth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and is named in honor of our nation’s 16th president.
The Source: This story was written with information provided by the Associated Press and previous reporting by LiveNOW from FOX. This story was reported from Orlando.