@therecount: “I do firmly believe if not for the media pressure about what was happening on that ship, they’d still be out there.” Jefferson Kelley, the father of a sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, spoke to us about what it has been like to have a family member deployed at sea in the Middle East as the War in Iran drags on, and amid intense scrutiny over conditions on the ship. “The frustrating part is the sequence where, you’ve got me on this side, and then the next step to information is an administration that lies about everything,” Kelley said. The aircraft carrier spent more than 250 consecutive days at sea without a standard port call, making it one of the longest deployments without a break on shore. The extended deployment reportedly led to shortages of fresh food, broken toilets and showers, and declining mental health among sailors, with some attempting to take their own lives. Following public pressure, the Trump administration sent the USS Washington to relieve the Lincoln and allow the carrier to return to its home port in San Diego. The sailors are now en route to San Diego and, according to Kelley, could arrive as early as next week. #usslincoln #military #usa #sailor #navy

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Friday 02 October 2026 16:30:39 GMT