Families react to USS Lincoln’s return to San Diego

SAN DIEGO (NBC, KYMA) - The USS Abraham Lincoln returned to its home port of San Diego Thursday after a long and stressful deployment.

When it left in November, this was expected to be a six-month deployment in the Pacific, not ten months including time in an active war zone.

Now, family members of those aboard the USS Lincoln were relieved to have their loved ones back on dry land.

Hours before the Lincoln as visible in the San Diego bay, families got their spot, with signs, banners and balloons to welcome their sailors and marines home from what turned out to be a combat deployment, with historic challenges.

"I would ask him you know, what did he...every day, what did you eat. He would share with me, he only had a little bit, so it started to worry me that he wasn't getting enough food," said one family member.

"It was scary to hear but then hearing from her that she was okay made me feel a lot better," said another family member.

"When we actually knew that we was actually in war which we didn't expect was going to happen on his, you know, signing up, but we're glad and we're proud that he made it through and made it home. That's the most important thing. That's all we worry about. This is the day we prayed for just making sure he made it here," said another family member.

But those worries seemed to quickly drift away as the ship finally came into sight just before noon.

Sailors lined the flight deck and edges of the carrier, while loved ones on the pier cheered, clapped and some cried, relieved to finally be able to see the person they had been missing for more than ten months.

Before the crew disembarked, a press conference was held with Lincoln leadership.

They addressed supply concerns, saying there were times in March and in April when the ship wasn't able to get replenishments as expected because they were in an active war zone.

They also commented on mental health concerns, saying the ship had more than enough support for those who needed it.

While the eight suicide attempts among carrier strike group three as revealed by acting navy secretary is eight too many, the number they want to focus on is zero.

"We want the suicide attempt number to be zero. Having done this many many times with the demographics that I have on board and the you know the stressful mission that we conduct that's unrealistic. That's why I go to sea with a well-staffed mental health team," said Capt. Dan Keeler, the Lincoln's commanding officer.

The Lincoln is expected to go to Bremerton for planned maintenance before the end of the year.