— Harry Styles, who admitted in a new Rolling Stone interview that he doesn't know where the charger is. A sign of the times, and the most relatable part of Harry’s House.
And on Day 322
Back on Solid Ground
Note: This story discusses attempted suicide. If you need help, please call or text 988 to reach SAMHSA’s confidential 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
What's going on: The USS Abraham Lincoln finally docked in San Diego on Thursday after a 322-day deployment in support of the Iran war, including a near-record nine and a half months at sea without a stop. Over the summer, the carrier made headlines amid reports of sailors’ mental health struggles, including multiple attempts to jump overboard, as well as shortages in food and other basic supplies. President Donald Trump denied any problems and even said in August that the deployment hadn’t been “nearly long enough.” The Navy eventually acknowledged the mental health crisis on board, with acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirming in September that eight sailors had attempted suicide. The day before the carrier docked, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth flew out to award the crew a Presidential Unit Citation, a high honor that usually recognizes combat. Now, the around 5,000 people on board have returned to the US.
Welcome home: Family members waiting for the carrier to dock held signs that read: “I’m here to pick up the love of my life,” and “Every family needs an anchor, and ours comes home today.” CNN correspondent Pamela Brown, who reported from the carrier ahead of the dock, showed how soldiers decorated the ship in celebration of its return. New parents were among the first allowed off the carrier, including 64 fathers who met their babies for the first time yesterday. Sailor Brent Ledbetter told NBC News of his 10-month-old son: “I’m excited to chase him around the house and give him all the love” that has "been kind of withheld for the last 10 months." But just because the ship has docked, doesn’t mean everyone has moved on. Some are calling for an investigation into the alleged poor conditions and lack of mental health support on board. “We need to prevent this crisis from happening ever again, and ultimately end the Iran war and bring all our service members home,” Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) said earlier this month.
