Aircraft carrier Lincoln pulls into Pearl Harbor
Sailors wave from deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln as it arrives in Pearl Harbor this morning.
Henry Maier, of Maryland, waves American flags as aircraft carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln docks. He was greeting his son, Louis Maier, who is a F-18 mechanic.
Ariana Morales waved a sign for her brother, Jared, of Kapolei, a crewmember on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, which arrived at Pearl Harbor this morning.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln arrived at Pearl Harbor Thursday morning for a port visit by its approximately 5,000 crew and air wing members, the Navy said.
They might be a little thirsty.
According to the ship’s on-board newspaper, alcohol has been banned on Navy ships since 1913. However, there are very limited exceptions, and for the carrier’s "steel beach" deck-top picnic on Feb. 10, Lincoln sailors were authorized two 12-ounce cans of beer each per a newer regulation that allows for the brew during "arduous operations."
Eight percent of the carrier’s crew are age 20 or under and 47 percent are 20 to 24 years old, officials said. Seven hundred of the crew members are female.
The Lincoln, home ported in Everett, Wash., is stopping in Hawaii at the tail end of a six-month deployment during which Carrier Air Wing 2 flew more than 8,300 sorties and completed more than 23,500 flying hours and supported operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
For the Afghanistan missions, the carrier loaded more than 900,000 pounds of missiles, bombs and 20 mm rounds onto aircraft.
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The nuclear-powered carrier traveled 60,000 miles over the course of the deployment, operating in the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea and South China Sea, and conducted the following, the Navy said:
>> Held exercises with countries including France, Bahrain, Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
>> Visited ports in Malaysia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Saipan, Philippines, Seychelles, Japan, Israel, Thailand, Australia, Oman, Maldives, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.
>> Conducted community relations and community service projects in Malaysia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Saipan, Philippines, Seychelles, Japan, Israel, Thailand, Australia and Maldives.
>> Hosted the U.S. secretary of defense, chief of naval operations, more than 30 international dignitaries and military officials.
During the deployment, the Lincoln earned a prestigious Battle "E" award for efficiency, as well as 13 individual departmental Battle "E" awards, the Navy said.
Abraham Lincoln left Everett, Wash. on Sept. 7 and will head to San Diego before arriving home in late March.
