US sailors descend on Thai town after months at sea

PATTAYA: Hundreds of US sailors disembarked in Thailand on Wednesday, visiting a resort town with a seedy reputation after a lengthy Middle East deployment that sparked concerns over conditions on board. The 5,000-strong crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln docked just north of Pattaya, near Bangkok, for their first port call in 286 days at sea. Their arrival for five days of rest and recreation was eagerly awaited in Pattaya. As the sun set in Pattaya, dozens of Thai police and security forces gathered on a beach walkway, just across from the Hard Rock Hotel where sailors were staying.
The huge nuclear-powered carrier arrived at the port of Laem Chabang, with dozens of warplanes lined up on its flight deck. The carrier left California in November for duty in the South China Sea. It was rerouted to the Middle East before US-Israeli attacks on Iran began in February. Reports of deteriorating living conditions and poor mental health on board made headlines in the United States and provoked criticism of the ongoing conflict. Democratic lawmakers have called for an investigation into conditions on the vessel following reports of food shortages, broken plumbing and mental health crises. — AFP