The aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln (USS Abraham Lincoln), along with the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Frank E. Peterson Jr., made a brief stop in Guam last weekend. This stop is recognized as the first return of the strike group personnel to U.S. soil in the past 9 months.
Deployment Duration and Dates
The Lincoln left San Diego, California on November 21, 2025, and has been on mission for over 300 days (302 days as of the latest count). The U.S. Navy announced that this ship and destroyer are returning to the area of responsibility of the United States Pacific Command after nearly 7 months of operations in the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command.
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Details of the Stop in Guam
Reports indicate that this stop in Guam was a brief logistical contact, but the strike group personnel enjoyed liberty at the base. The strike group arrived in Guam on September 19 and left the next day. According to a spokesperson for the strike group, this stop in Apra was for loading equipment, mail, and supplies.
This was the second time during this deployment that the Lincoln arrived in Guam. The ship had previously made a brief stop there in December 2025. The Lincoln has spent 208 consecutive days at sea and 200 days in the combat zone. It also had a brief logistical stop in Oman at the end of July and then made its first port stop in Thailand from September 2 to 6.
Reports suggest that the Abraham Lincoln is likely heading towards San Diego and is expected to return to the U.S. West Coast early next month. 13 family and fleet advisors are now stationed on the ship to assist personnel in returning and reuniting with families and friends. There are concerns from many about the mental health and well-being of the crew after a long time in the combat zone and lack of port stops.
The Navy recently informed the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt to prepare for a long deployment in the Middle East. Reports also indicate that the USS Spruance and USS Michael Murphy destroyers, which were traveling with the Abraham Lincoln, have separated from the strike group and remain in the Arabian Sea.
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