After a record 250 days at sea without a port stop, the nuclear‑powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln docked in Thailand, giving its nearly 5,000 crew members a well‑deserved break.
The ship is docking close to the beach resort of Pattaya, known for its raucous nightlife and for sex tourism. For the U.S. it also carries strong historical echoes.
When the weary sailors walk into the city’s bars and restaurants, they will literally be treading in the footsteps of the hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops who came here for R&R during the Vietnam war.
The town grew from a sleepy fishing village into a worldwide party hub thanks to those soldiers. Today its neon‑lit alleys are quieter; the bars on Winston Street still display pole‑ dancing videos, yet sales are low as many patrons are family groups from the Middle East, cheekily drawn by the Turkish ice‑cream vendor rather than the go‑go bars.
With the Iran war dampening tourism and consumer spending, local businesses are hoping the influx of thousands of American sailors—with nine months’ salary unspent at sea—will be a rare boost.
The U.S. Navy left San Diego last November for a six‑month deployment in the Pacific and South China Sea, but diverted to the Gulf following the U.S. and Israel’s military operations against Iran in February. Recent reports of food shortages, broken toilets and mental stress have ruffled seas, although the Navy says crew are well supported; it did not comment on the Pattaya docking due to operational security.
Despite Thailand’s close ties with China, it remains a U.S. treaty ally and has long welcomed port visits. This halt brings the largest number of U.S. military personnel from a war zone to Pattaya since 1975.
The Thai authorities have arranged shuttle buses from the port into Pattaya running from 5am to 2am every day the carrier is here, and have designated two hotels for those who want to stay. Police have been deployed to watch the city’s entertainment zones and warned locals not to overcharge American visitors.
Mayor Poramase Ngampiches said the city has changed; while it still hosts bars and women, it now also offers sports, seminars, wellness and family‑friendly activities, showing that Pattaya has diversified beyond the “bar girls” stereotype.
By the time the USS Abraham Lincoln begins its long journey home across the Pacific on 6 September, the crew will hopefully be refreshed and rested.
