Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleUSS Abraham Lincoln, carrying 5,000 troops, arrived in eastern Thailand on Wednesday after reports of mental health issues and deteriorating conditions on the ship during a record 286-day deployment.Busloads of sailors and Marines in civilian clothes, many smiling and waving, started arriving at a hotel in the resort city of Pattaya, about 150 km (93 miles) southeast of Bangkok, at around 1 p.m. local time (2 a.m. ET).Shakeira Fairfax flew in from New Jersey to meet her 25-year-old daughter, a Lincoln crew member. Fairfax said there were moments during the lengthy deployment when morale was low and contact was limited, leading her to fear for her daughter's safety."There was a period of silence," she said. "It was an uncertain time, it was a scary time. It was difficult, it was definitely difficult, but she has a support system. I just can't wait to see her smile. I can't wait to hear 'Mom', I know that's the first thing she's gonna say."The port visit raised hopes of an economic boost for Pattaya, which also has a long-standing reputation as a sex tourism destination. Thai officials and U.S. Navy commanders instituted safety guidelines and activity restrictions for the visiting service members, supported by increased local police patrols around Pattaya's entertainment districts. In fullRussians, sex tourism and now 5,000 US sailors: What to know about Pattaya as USS Abraham Lincoln finally docksMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in