The USS Abraham Lincoln returned to its San Diego home port on last week after 321 days at sea, greeted by families, locals, and messages from officials. 

The deployment drew scrutiny over reports of low morale, suicide attempts, food shortages and the ship’s rust-streaked hull, though the Pentagon denied the suicide and food-shortage claims and experts described the hull’s condition as expected wear.

The condition of the Lincoln's hull and paint missing from the waterline is “consistent” with more than nine months at sea and is “cosmetic,” rather than impacting how the carrier operates, Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs, tells Newsweek.

In an interview with CBS News, Murrett describes the return of the USS Abraham Lincoln as “a very special occasion.”

“All of us ought to be very thankful to all the men and women that are on USS Abraham Lincoln and also the other groups that were in company with it,” says Murrett.

“As you know, Lincoln's part of a battle group to include other ships, combatants and supply ships and support personnel. So for every one of them, for these extended deployments, which...tends to be tougher psychologcally on the families and the personnel. So most of all, we should be very grateful and very proud of all the people that are on this ship,” he says.