The USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in San Diego Bay Thursday afternoon. The aircraft carrier's arrival ended a 322-day deployment.

Thousands of sailors and Marines came home to reunite with loved ones. Some new fathers held their babies for the first time.

The deployment supported the Iran war. It included a record 265 days of nonstop time at sea.

The carrier spent much of its time in combat without days off. The crew endured food shortages.

Reports of crew stress and supply shortages drew attention. Families cried and lost sleep over news of declining crew mental health.

The ship's commander said the crew had four meals a day. An acting Navy secretary said there was still enough food.

But the secretary also said meal choices briefly narrowed. The carrier left in November and reached the Middle East in January.

The USS George Washington took over there in August. The carrier stopped in Thailand on its way back to California.