Sailors from the USS Abraham Lincoln have been enjoying shore leave in Pattaya, Thailand, after a record uninterrupted 286 days at sea as part of the US war on Iran. On Thursday morning, the Colour Nail salon was full of crew members, both male and female, settling in for pedicures.
Arisa Suekkanya, a worker at the salon, said she was “excited” that the US military chose Thailand as their first port of call after the long deployment.
Living conditions onboard
The aircraft carrier has faced reports of deteriorating living conditions and poor mental health onboard, including attempted suicides, which have drawn criticism of Donald Trump’s war against Iran. The ship’s captain admitted to a lack of fresh fruit and vegetables but said reports about the living conditions were largely exaggerated.
Adam, on his first deployment, compared the living situation to “being stuck in your bedroom with all your family” but said building relationships with fellow crew and “finding your people” made the difficulties worthwhile. He described eating “uncooked beef” and sliced up, uncooked potato, saying he “almost choked on this many times.”
According to Adam, the decline in living standards was due to battle conditions imposed during Operation Epic Fury, not the length of deployment. Another crew member, Marco, agreed, saying there was a necessary deterioration during this “battle rhythm” period when restocking would have put them at risk.
Simple pleasures
Despite Pattaya’s fame for its red light district, many sailors opted for “the simple stuff.” Tim was in the Vans store looking for new socks. David bought his wife a Hello Kitty soft toy from H&M, noting it was his fourth deployment. Adam ordered two burgers at Burger King and planned to order a tailored suit and explore Thailand’s east coast.
Local businesses have welcomed the visitors, with tailors like Tito Fashion advertising “specially for US Navy ready in 24 hours” and Thai restaurant Imm-Oon Na offering 10% off for military ID holders. In the mall, Nike, Victoria’s Secret and Starbucks all reported a spike in sales.
Economic boost and nightlife
Pattaya’s mayor, Poramet Ngampichet, estimated that if each American spends $100-150 per day, the visit could generate about $100m Thai baht ($3m). However, not all businesses have benefited; Emma Moontee, who runs a gift stall, said she had only sold one fridge magnet souvenir to a sailor.
The crew has been advised not to go to the beer bars along Soi 6 after sunset, but the main strip, Walking Street, is not off limits. A neon sign at its entrance says: “Pattaya City is pleased to welcome USS Abraham Lincoln carrier and its personnel.” Venues like the Sapphire Club offered 10% off to US service members.
Pattana Prasomsup, who works at M’s Mojito, said the 10 crew who visited on Wednesday night provided a “good boost” but appeared cautious about interacting with bar girls.
Local context
Pattaya was transformed from a quiet fishing village into an R&R destination for US soldiers during the Vietnam war, leading to a boom in hotels, massage parlours and bars. Most workers in the sex tourism industry have migrated from Isan, Thailand’s poorest region, as well as neighbouring Laos and Myanmar.
Back in the mall, Puangbubpha Duangsri, who works at American Eagle, said they made over 200,000 baht on Wednesday after the sailors arrived, compared to their usual 70,000 baht in the off season. By lunchtime on Thursday, they had already made over $100,000. “Can they stay an extra week?” she said.
