Pentagon chief awards Presidential Unit Citation to USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group on Wednesday for a "historic" combat deployment, as the aircraft carrier headed to San Diego following an extended mission in the Middle East.

"What the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group did, no other carrier strike group has ever done," Hegseth told the crew.

Hegseth cited 10,000 sorties, 23,000 combat flight hours and nearly 4,000 combat sorties during the deployment. He said the group dropped 1.5 million pounds of ordnance on enemy targets.

The secretary said President Donald Trump asked him to personally thank the sailors and other personnel involved in the mission, including their role in the Epic Fury operation aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

He also praised the carrier strike group's role in a subsequent blockade, describing it as “impenetrable since day one.”

Hegseth highlighted the length and demands of the deployment, saying the crew spent 265 consecutive days without a port call. He said the deployment was extended twice after personnel believed they would be returning home.

“Two times extended when you thought you were going home, and we asked you to do more,” he said. “And you know what you did? You did more, and it wasn't easy.”

Hegseth said the carrier strike group played a central role in the administration's effort to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

“I couldn't be more proud of what you executed in this historic mission to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon,” he said. Iran “will never get a nuclear weapon.”

Hegseth announced that the carrier strike group would receive the Presidential Unit Citation, one of the military's highest unit awards.

“It is with great pride today that I would like to award to you the Presidential Unit Citation,” he said.

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