Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth presented the Presidential Unit Citation to the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying strike group on Wednesday. The honor, which is the highest unit award a military collective can receive, was given as the aircraft carrier made its way back to its home port of San Diego following an extended deployment supporting operations in the Middle East. The distinction recognizes units that demonstrate extraordinary heroism during armed conflict. During his address on board the ship, Hegseth praised the sailors and Marines for their pivotal role in enforcing a naval blockade and executing combat missions associated with Operation Epic Fury. He noted that the strike group completed thousands of combat sorties, launched numerous cruise missiles, and neutralized multiple hostile threats. The deployment required the crew to spend a record number of consecutive days at sea without a port call, drawing national attention due to the prolonged timeline and associated operational challenges. Hegseth commended the personnel for overcoming these difficulties and successfully achieving strategic security objectives. He stated that their service changed the historical trajectory by countering the ambitions of theocratic adversaries and preventing nuclear proliferation. Furthermore, the defense secretary criticized media portrayals of onboard conditions, asserting that the reports mischaracterized a highly successful mission as dysfunctional. The Presidential Unit Citation remains an exceptionally rare commendation, typically reserved for major historical campaigns and critical combat engagements. The Lincoln is the second aircraft carrier to complete an arduous deployment in support of these regional operations and subsequently receive the top unit honor.
Source: cbsnews.com
