US sailors visit Pattaya after nine-month deployment, streets alive at night

The USS Abraham Lincoln’s crew arrived in Pattaya, Thailand, for a port call after a nine-month deployment, with sailors given shore leave at beachside hotels and allowed to visit the city’s promenades and nightlife, US officials said.

Many of the nearly 5,000 sailors left the carrier to shop and relax at the Hard Rock Hotel and other shore facilities, seeking relief after an extended period at sea. Local venues including Walking Street welcomed the crew, and by midnight some younger sailors were heavily intoxicated while others entered Pattaya’s go-go bars.

Officials enforced off-limits areas for service members; small sections of the city’s sex industry were declared restricted for the visit. Shore Liaison Group personnel accompanied sailors on land to maintain discipline and coordinate with local authorities, visible by their SLG-marked shirts.

US Naval Attache Kristopher Robinson declined to detail banned activities, stating the Navy sought to provide rest opportunities while ensuring personnel followed US and Thai laws and naval regulations. Family members expressed relief at crew members’ return to shore, citing low morale during the deployment.

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The carrier’s stop in Pattaya provided routine port-call rest for a crew returning en route to California after operations in the Middle East, with local protocols and Shore Liaison Group oversight guiding onshore conduct. The visit offered immediate morale relief for sailors after nine months at sea while maintaining discipline and cooperation with Thai authorities.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• Nearly 5,000 sailors from USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in Pattaya for a shore visit after a nine-month deployment.
• Crews stayed at beachside hotels, shopped locally and visited Walking Street, with some sailors heavily intoxicated by midnight.
• Shore Liaison Group personnel enforced off-limits areas and coordinated with Thai authorities while US officials emphasized adherence to US and Thai laws.