Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth presented the Presidential Unit Citation—the U.S. military’s highest unit-level honor—to the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln and its carrier strike group on October 7, one day before the ship returned to its homeport in San Diego following a 320-day deployment.
The citation recognized the strike group’s role in 40 days of combat operations and enforcement of a maritime blockade against Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury, the Trump administration’s code name for the Iran war. The deployment, which began on November 25, 2025, included 265 consecutive days at sea without a port call, marking one of the longest carrier deployments in U.S. naval history.
Record Deployment and Combat Operations
Hegseth credited the Lincoln strike group with 23,000 combat flight hours, including 160 continuous hours of flight operations at the start of the U.S. military campaign against Iran on February 28. The strike group expended approximately 1.4 million pounds of weaponry against Iranian targets, destroying 64 Iranian warships without any reported aircraft mishaps. It also defended against 21 anti-ship cruise missiles, 77 one-way attack drones, and four explosive-laden surface vessels.
The carrier’s extended deployment drew national attention amid reports of crew stress, mental health concerns, and supply shortages, including food and hygiene products. On September 22, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed in a letter to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand that eight service members aboard the ship had attempted suicide during the deployment. The letter noted that the total number of suicide attempts across the strike group reached eight since the deployment began.
Humanitarian and Operational Challenges
The Lincoln made a brief stop in Thailand in early September before resuming its transit home. Hegseth acknowledged the strain on the crew, telling them, “I’m the only thing standing between you and home.” He added that his intention was to “get out of the way” once the ship docked.
The deployment followed the USS Gerald R. Ford’s 326-day deployment, the longest for a U.S. aircraft carrier in the past 50 years and the longest since the Vietnam War. The Lincoln’s deployment was the second-longest in that period.
Official Recognition and Future Implications
Hegseth framed the award as recognition of the crew’s resilience under extreme conditions, stating, “We asked you to do more, and you did more.” He highlighted the strike group’s role in enforcing the blockade as part of a broader strategy to “economically constrain Tehran and extract diplomatic concessions.”
The Presidential Unit Citation is typically reserved for units demonstrating exceptional heroism or outstanding achievement in combat. The Lincoln is the second carrier to receive the award after completing an unusually long deployment in support of the Iran war.