Haze Gray Photo Feature

USS Abraham Lincoln Homecoming


On Monday, February 12th, 2001, the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) returned to her homeport of Everett, WA, at the end of a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf. It was a joyous homecoming for thousands of Sailors and their families.

Any deployment is a challenge, and this was no exception. Early in the WESTPAC deployment, port visits in Hong Kong and Singapore were cancelled due to weather delays. An F/A-18 crashed into the sea, and the pilot was lost. While she was in the western Pacific, the carrier was ordered to the Arabian Gulf at best speed, so a planned port call in Thailand was skipped. In the Arabian Gulf Lincoln and her battlegroup relieved the George Washington battlegroup, and flew nearly 1,500 sorties over Iraq.

This was a particularly challenging trip to the Gulf, as Lincoln was in the region when USS Cole was attacked by terrorists at Aden, Yemen. The attack raised tensions and alert levels, forced cancellation of port calls, and sent ships from around the region rushing to Aden to assist Cole. One ship from the battlegroup, USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) was called upon to escort the deckship M/V Blue Marlin from Dubai to Aden, where the deckship loaded Cole for transport back to the US.

After 90 days in the Arabian Gulf, Lincoln finally headed home, stopping in Australia for well-deserved liberty after 77 consecutive days at sea.

Special thanks to Lincoln Public Affairs Officer LCDR Denise Shorey and photographer Roy McBride for making this photo feature possible!


 [THUMBNAIL] A starboard-quarter view as tugs move Abraham Lincoln to her berth. The platform at water level on the transom is a combination tug fender and boat landing stage.

 [THUMBNAIL] The crew lines the rail on the starboard quarter.
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 [THUMBNAIL] A closeup view of the transom area and starboard aft Phalanx CIWS.
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 [THUMBNAIL] Abraham Lincoln pierside, shortly after mooring.
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 [THUMBNAIL] A view looking up at the island and radar mast as a crane sets a brow in place.
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 [THUMBNAIL] A band plays on the pier as the ship is moved to her berth and the brows are hoisted into place.
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 [THUMBNAIL] Another view of the band performing on the pier.
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 [THUMBNAIL] A view across Lincoln's bridge, looking forward and to port.
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 [THUMBNAIL] Lincoln's helm.
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 [THUMBNAIL] A view from the XO's seat on the bridge, towards two FFGs berthed nearby.
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 [THUMBNAIL] View from the CO's seat on the bridge, looking forward, across the bow catapults.
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 [THUMBNAIL] USS Ford (FFG 54), an Everett-based ship.
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 [THUMBNAIL] USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60), another Everett ship.
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- The Homecoming Crowd -
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- Happy Reunions -
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This section of the HG&UW site created and maintained by Andrew Toppan.
Copyright © 2001, Andrew Toppan. All Rights Reserved.
Photos Copyright © 2001, Roy McBride. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction, reuse, or distribution without permission is prohibited.