The Lincoln was also delayed in returning home because it had to wait for a relief ship to arrive.<\/p>\n
The crew will be greeted by a powerful new supporter when it reaches Naval Air Station North Island.<\/p>\n
Vice Adm. Marc Miguez<\/a> took command of the San Diego-based 3rd Fleet in late July and has found much to admire about the Lincoln, a ship that costs about $1.5 million a day to operate at sea.<\/p>\n He told the Union-Tribune that the Lincoln and its escort ships withstood attacks from Iran that were more far-reaching than most people knew. Miguez also defended the Lincoln\u2019s decision to forgo port calls, saying it was the right thing to do militarily. He challenged reports about the severity of the supply chain problem. And he said the crew\u2019s morale is much higher than it has been depicted, largely because sailors are proud of the role they played in the conflict.<\/p>\n Miguez, a former naval flight officer, has deep experience with such difficult and chaotic missions.<\/p>\n In 2023 and 2024, he led the USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group on what began as a routine deployment expected to last six to seven months. Things quickly changed. The group was sent to the Middle East to protect international shipping lanes that were under attack by Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. Quickly, the \u201cIke,\u201d as the ship is called, was in the midst of one of the fiercest<\/a> running sea battles that American warships had encountered since World War II. The mission ended up lasting nine months.<\/p>\n The Eisenhower\u2019s fights with the Houthis received far more news coverage than the Lincoln group\u2019s combat, obscuring some important points.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have the exact number, but they\u00a0were under attack, probably more, I would say, than I was under attack with the Eisenhower,\u201d Miguez said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe threats that they were exposed to were probably more of a higher capacity that\u00a0the Iranians were throwing at them.\u201d<\/p>\n He also said it appeared that Iran was getting information on how to target the Lincoln carrier group, making the situation more dangerous.<\/p>\n Early on, Iran announced that it had struck the Lincoln with missiles and drones, a claim that spread quickly on social media. The Pentagon pushed back, saying no such thing happened.<\/p>\n Still, there were white-knuckle moments for the U.S. warships, particularly when it appeared that a missile was coming their way.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to make an assessment: Is that targeting me or is that targeting something I\u2019m defending?\u201d Miguez said.<\/p>\n The Lincoln was primarily protected by the destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. and USS Michael Murphy, as well as the San Diego-based USS Spruance, which is still on patrol.<\/p>\n The intensity for the crew of the Lincoln and its escorts only grew as living conditions deteriorated, with reports that many were suffering from exhaustion and mental health issues, and possibly suicidal ideation.<\/p>\n U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs of San Diego visited the Lincoln far offshore on Sept. 7 to investigate the matter. The Democratic Congress member later issued a statement<\/a> saying that sailors and Marines told her about \u201cstruggles to wash clothes, get medicine and health care, and eat enough food.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe blame lies squarely with President Trump who knowingly launched a war without the required planning and strategy needed. He put these service members in the position where the conditions were so horrific that some attempted suicide.\u201d<\/p>\n President Donald Trump had earlier said that the Lincoln\u2019s deployment \u201cwas not nearly long enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Family members of the Lincoln crew raised the issue with Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao on Aug. 6 during an emotional town hall meeting at North Island. The following week, Cao seemed to downplay the matter in a statement,<\/a> saying \u201cthe media are trying to paint our warriors as victims.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Vice](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SUT-L-THIRD-FLEET-005_be7a8b.jpg\")
San Diego, CA \u2013 Vice Admiral Marc Miguez on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, at the headquarters of the United States Navy Third Fleet in San Diego, CA. (Luke Johnson \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n
![\"SI](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SUT-L-THIRD-FLEET-019.jpg\")
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier departs Laem Chabang Port on Sept. 6, 2026, in Si Racha, Thailand. Nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the carrier took shore leave in nearby Pattaya. (Thananuwat Srirasant\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n