Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)

Every American ought to be outraged at the deplorable treatment of our sailors and Marines aboard the Abraham Lincoln. The carrier left San Diego on November 21, 2025, on what was supposed to be a deployment to the Pacific, but it was diverted to the Middle East, arriving in the Arabian Sea in January 2026.  Except for a brief, one-day port visit to Guam on December 11–12, 2025, the crew has been confined to the ship continuously for nine months. As an old sailor myself, I can say that even three months at sea without shore leave is asking too much of the crew. Furthermore, there are verified reports that the ship is running out of food, fresh water, soap, and supplies in general. Some toilets don’t work, and the showers are moldy. This is not the military I knew.

Marc and the old man.

None of this would be happening if we had competent leadership from our President and Secretary of Defense, or Secretary of War, as they call it.  I also fault our effete and cowardly Congress for failing to remove these clowns from office and appoint competent leaders. Who voted for these bozos anyway?

I have some connection to Abraham Lincoln. My son is a plank owner on that ship. Marc joined the Navy in December 1988. After attending aviation boatswain school, he was assigned to the Lincoln while it was still under construction in the Newport News Shipyard.  In January 1989, the aircraft carrier was moved to Pier 2 at the shipyard for the final phase of construction. The crew moved aboard at the end of April 1989.

Betty at the commissioning of the Abraham Lincoln

In October 1989, Marc invited Betty and me to attend the commissioning of the ship. On November 11, 1989, we attended the commissioning ceremony of the USS Abraham Lincoln at Naval Station Norfolk's Pier 12. Marc was among the sailors on the quarterdeck.

 In early February 1990, Marc called to invite me to join him on a Tiger Cruise out of Port Everglades. At the time, it was limited to adult male family members. I was excited at the prospect of sailing with my son on a nuclear carrier. Betty told her eighty-year-old boss, Dr. Bill Russell, about the cruise. Bill said he wished he could go on a cruise like that. He wanted to know if there was some way he could get invited. When we asked Marc, he said the rules were loose enough for Bill to register as his grandfather. On February 22, 1990, Bill and I flew down to Fort Lauderdale and took a cab to the dock where we boarded the ship.

The mess deck on the Abraham Lincoln

The three-day adventure that followed was one of the high points of my life. We had the run of the ship except for the reactor room and the steam/hydraulic catapult, which were off limits. Crew members were standing by to answer our questions and give us tours. We took pictures, asked questions, and experienced as much as we could. We witnessed the launch of F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18 Hornets from twenty feet away. Even with hearing protection, the roar was overwhelming. Later, the pilots put on a show of firepower by bombing and strafing the water.

The berthing area on the Abraham Lincoln

We slept in the crew’s berthing area where the bunks were stacked four high. Bill took a top bunk because it was a challenge for a man his age. I took a bottom bunk. We took all our meals on the mess deck with the crew except for one breakfast when we dined in the wardroom, where we ordered from a menu.   

After two eventful days, most of the aircraft were flown off the ship to Naval Air Base Oceana while we sailed back to Norfolk on the Lincoln. It was a remarkable adventure that few civilians ever have the opportunity to experience.

I hope someone with common sense comes along and takes charge of the situation before things get totally out of hand. When will we ever learn?