American sailors on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln returned home to California on Thursday. They were at sea for 265 days without stopping. This was a record for the ship's deployment.
Family members and friends waited at the port to meet the crew. Many sailors were happy and relieved to see their families. One 20-year-old sailor said he once thought he would never leave the ship. Another sailor asked his family to prepare fresh meals after months at sea.
The ship was away for 322 days in total to support US military actions against Iran. The long trip was hard for the crew. News reports said that sailors faced food shortages and high mental health stress during the deployment.
Many people in the United States are worried about the ongoing conflict. A recent public opinion poll showed that 65 percent of Americans disapproved of how the government handled the war.