Drunken Brawl in Pattaya: USS Lincoln Sailors Sent Back to Ship

PATTAYA, Thailand, Two U.S. Navy service members from the USS Abraham Lincoln have been confined to their ship after a drunken altercation in Pattaya, a notorious seaside resort town. The incident occurred early Thursday morning, with local authorities describing it as “minor.” The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is currently docked in Thailand following a grueling 286 days at sea.

The two unidentified service members were involved in a physical altercation near a town bar around 1:30 a.m., according to reports citing local police. A Thai citizen made an emergency call, expressing concern that the situation might escalate. Police responded swiftly, taking the Americans to a U.S.-Thailand joint operations center located in the town's Hard Rock Cafe before they were transferred back to their vessel.

A Thai official commented on the incident, stating that the service members were intoxicated but the altercation itself was not severe.

The pair will remain confined to the USS Abraham Lincoln for the remainder of its five-day port visit in Pattaya.

This incident comes as the USS Abraham Lincoln concludes a prolonged deployment that began last November, initially expected to end in May.

The Nimitz-class carrier's nearly nine-month stint at sea, which supported operations related to the Iran war, has been under scrutiny.

Reports surfaced previously detailing supply shortages and significant mental health struggles among the 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard.

Family members had even shared accounts of some service members attempting to jump overboard due to the arduous conditions.

The deployment's length and its reported impact on crew welfare provide a challenging backdrop to this recent shore leave incident. #USNavy #USSAbrahamLincoln #Pattaya #MilitaryLife