USS Abraham Lincoln Returns From 321-Day Epic Fury Combat Deployment

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln returned to Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego on October 8, 2026, after a 321-day deployment that included combat operations under Operation Epic Fury. Associated Press reported that the carrier spent 265 uninterrupted days at sea during the deployment, while the strike group supported sustained operations in the Middle East. U.S. officials credited the force with thousands of combat sorties and substantial weapons employment during the campaign, although those figures cover multiple elements of the strike group. The carrier's crew received a Presidential Unit Citation before returning home, closing an unusually prolonged operational tour.