Sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during recently came back from 265 consecutive days at sea in the Middle East, part of a 321-day total deployment, according to military officials.
News reports consistently described the Lincoln’s 2025-26 deployment as “troubled,” “controversy‑plague,” and “one of the hardest in modern Navy history.” Morale was low, those reports said.
Among the sailors on board to USS Lincoln was petty officer, third class, Eric Lara, an Orange County native whose love of ships has led him to be a regular visitor to the Queen Mary since he was a boy and to serve as a volunteer on the SS Lane Victory in San Pedro.
Sailor Eric Lara stands aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which recently returned from a long deployment at sea. (Courtesy of Eric Lara)
Sailor Eric Lara hugs his mom after leaving the USS Abraham Lincoln in San Diego on Oct. 8. (Courtesy of Eric Lara)
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Sailor Eric Lara stands aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which recently returned from a long deployment at sea. (Courtesy of Eric Lara)
I sent Lara messages while he was at sea and once the Lincoln arrived in port. I was interested in his access to information and how he dealt with being at sea so long.
“They published a newspaper most mornings with the major headlines/Iranian developments,” Lara said. “Once Wi-Fi and communications came back online, info was more accessible.”
I also asked him about the sad news, like attempted suicides by crew members, and what he did to keep his sprits up.
“I personally didn’t witness anything,” Lara told me. “The reported eight attempts encompassed all the ships in our strike group. We had a morale dog on board named Captain Fathom! He was awesome. We also had various smaller events hosted by the MWR team (Morale Welfare and Recreation) such as bingo nights and a couple steel beach picnics! Personally, I really liked seeing Captain Fathom.”
Lara also said the crew was unified.
“Some of the most important (moments were) overcoming any challenge thrown at us,” he said. “We all have each other’s backs. No matter how hard things got, we would always find time to joke with each other, laugh together and just remind each other we will overcome anything.
Did that teambuilding come naturally?
“It came naturally for the most part,” he said. “We were quite literally ‘all in the same boat,’ as the saying goes!”
The USS Lincoln finally finished its deployment when it docked in San Diego last week — to much fanfare.
Colleen Cooke, who was one of the umpires this past weekend for the Linda Elias Regatta, was part of the San Diego Flotilla of pleasure boats that filled the bay to greet the Abe Lincoln as it entered port on Oct. 8.
Cooke was on board the Dennis Connor, a Cortez Sailing Association vessel.
“I’d read about the difficult deployment they went through,” Cooke said. “I’m a Navy brat myself. I wanted to be a part of letting them know we cared about them. I think seeing how the public came out to greet them, all the boats and Shelter Island loaded with people every foot along the length of the island would provide some healing for what they endured.”
I asked Lara if they expected such a greeting.
“We sort of knew there was going to be some sort of showing,” he said. “However, we didn’t expect it to be as big as it was. It was a spectacular sight.”
It strengthened his patriotism, Lara said, and it felt amazing knowing that people do support the Lincoln and the crew.
Lara’s local ties, meanwhile, run deep — as does his affection for the Queen Mary. He first visited the iconic ship in 2009 when he was just 7 years old.
When I met him in 2013, his mom was driving the 11-year-old to the ship for visits.
He also visited and started volunteering on the SS Lane Victory, an American Victory-class cargo ship used in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War that now serves as a museum ship in the San Pedro. By 2018, he was volunteering full time.
“My favorite memories, on Lane Victory, would be having people from all walks of life coming together on a project to further preserve the memory and condition of the Lane,” Lara said. “The fun we would all have doing it too, and knowing that our work is benefiting the memory of history. We took great pride in that and that ship would not still be here without that amazing crew.”
His time volunteering inspired him to enlist in the Navy in October 2022.
Currently, Lara serves as an aviation boatswains mate, responsible for the aircraft steam catapults and arresting gear. For this recent deployment, he was temporarily assigned to the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department as a calibration technician.
“The path I followed to these events of my life,” Lara said, “all started on that first visit to the Queen Mary.”
Now that he’s back on land, what is Lara doing to celebrate after almost a year at sea? The answer wouldn’t surprise those who know him:
He booked a room on the Queen Mary from Thursday to Saturday, Oct. 15-17.
He is most looking forward to seeing all the ship enthusiasts and his buddies again, Lara said. He has missed everyone and can’t wait to catch up. Lara is also looking forward to the atmosphere and “that wood smell” on the Queen Mary, which he finds it peaceful and calming, Lara said.
The crew on board the Queen Mary isalso excited to welcome Lara on board, said general manager Steve Caloca.
“From the USS Abraham Lincoln to the former troop-carrying ship in WWII, the Queen Mary, we look forward to welcoming Eric Lara,” Caloca said. “Be prepared to relax, unwind and have some fun as our First Class VIP. Thank you for your service to our country, Eric!”
Welcome home, Eric Lara.