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Sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln docked just north of Pattaya, near Bangkok. Roughly 5,000 U.S. sailors and Marines reached Thailand on Wednesday for their first port call in 286 days at sea, marking 5 days of rest and recreation eagerly awaited in the beach and nightlife hub.
Along one street known as a nightlife hotspot, women paraded in revealing sailor outfits, though the mayor emphasised the city's other offerings, from sports and wellness to beaches and malls.
"We're all very excited, it should get quite lively," said Anthony "AJ" Jones, a 60-year-old musician from New Zealand who performs every night at M's Mojito beach bar in Pattaya. A banner outside the establishment reads: "Welcome all US military personnel. Thank you for your service."
"It's been the talk of the town for the past few days... it will be a boon for businesses," Jones told Agence France-Presse (AFP), noting he planned to perform some American classics to entertain the sailors. With authorities on alert for potential trouble, the city has stepped up security.
Sailors are barred from water sports, such as jet-skiing, and from taking advantage of Thailand's lax cannabis laws, Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches said.
The crew left California in November for duty in the South China Sea, rerouted to the Middle East before U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran that began in February. Reports of deteriorating living conditions and poor mental health on board, including attempted suicides, made headlines in the United States and fueled criticism of the ongoing conflict.
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