Chicago-area family awaits USS Lincoln sailor's return as community rallies support
PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. (WLS) -- A south suburban sailor is one step closer to coming home after spending more than 250 days aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, as lawmakers continue pressing the Pentagon about reported conditions on the carrier.
A transition is now underway in the Middle East. U.S. Central Command posted an image on social media Thursday showing the USS George Washington arriving in the Arabian Sea, where the carrier is expected to take over duties from the USS Abraham Lincoln in the region.
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For Terry Stonitsch, the deployment is personal. His son, who shares his name, is serving aboard the Lincoln.
"I'm proud of him. I mean, I can't say, you know, you know anymore. It's just it's amazing," Stonitsch said.
The Lincoln connects two generations of the South Suburban family. Stonitsch once served aboard the carrier himself and recalled seeing his son follow a similar path decades later.
"I was there in 1991, my first deployment during Desert Storm, and yes, I was out there, and then 32 years later, there I am back in the same ship during his first deployment. It was it was a great experience," he said.
The transition comes as lawmakers seek answers about reports of quality-of-life and mental health concerns during the Lincoln's extended deployment.
Stonitsch said his 23-year-old son has focused on staying active and social with fellow sailors, something he remembers from his own time aboard the ship.
"You try to keep your morale up and you try to have fun the best you can," Stonitsch said.
Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth joined other Senate Democrats in demanding answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about conditions aboard the ship.
Hegseth has pushed back on reports that sailors are struggling.
"We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment," Hegseth said.
Back home, support is growing. Stonitsch recently learned residents in Flossmoor, where his son attended elementary and junior high school, are organizing a toiletry drive for his son and his fellow sailors.
"The fact that they remember him and they're doing that, it means a lot. So it's really nice to see," Stonitsch said.
It remains unclear when the USS Abraham Lincoln will return to the United States. For now, Stonitsch said his family is counting down the days and hoping the deployment ends with his son home for Christmas.
