A Minnesota sailor recently experienced a rocky homecoming after serving a record-setting deployment aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. After spending nearly 10 months away from home, Connor Nelson finally arrived at his apartment in Lemoore, California, and claims he discovered that his home had been ransacked and his vehicle was nowhere to be found.
According to CBS News and PEOPLE, Nelson was “super excited” to get back to his life after his time at sea. The sailor, who had been away in the Middle East, took an Uber home from the airport and allegedly immediately noticed that his 1997 Toyota 4Runner was missing from its parking spot. He initially assumed it might have been towed. “And then I go to unlock my front door and it just pushes right open,” Nelson claimed.
Per PEOPLE, Nelson claimed that when he stepped inside, he realized his apartment had been burglarized. Thieves had allegedly taken almost everything he owned, including his laptop, his TV, his shoes, and his fishing equipment. The property was purportedly left in complete disarray, and the loss of his belongings was compounded by the fact that he was supposed to be enjoying a well-earned break.
Nelson’s family rallied to him while the investigation is ongoing
According to CBS, Nelson’s father, Justin Nelson, who is a 22-year Navy veteran, flew in from Minnesota to help his son after the break-in. “I know what it means to come home, you know, like what that means to a sailor, and it is such a bright spot, you know, in a young sailor’s life to come home and, you know, get that relaxation, see family, see friends, and just, you know, hey, you have the sense of accomplishment, you know, and that was kind of taken from him,” Justin told CBS.
The family has since set up a GoFundMe to help Connor replace the items that were stolen and cover his immediate expenses. On the fundraiser, Justin noted that “several thousands of dollars worth of belongings were taken, and the apartment was left trashed.”
Justin continued, writing, “After spending nearly a year away in service to our nation, this should have been a time of relief and welcome home. Instead, Connor came back to discover that his vehicle had been stolen and his apartment had been broken into.”
According to the fundraiser, the funds are intended to help Connor replace his lost items, clean up his apartment, and cover hotel stays while he waits for the landlords to secure the property. “This is not the homecoming he deserves,” Justin wrote. “Connor has already sacrificed four years of life so far, including nearly a year in a combat zone, defending our country.”
The community came through, with the fundraiser raising over $$53,883, crossing the initial $45,000 goal. Justin has since suspended donations and wrote that “With what’s leftover, Connor is looking at some veterans’ charities to make donations.”
According to PEOPLE, the deployment itself was an incredibly difficult ordeal for those on the ship. The USS Abraham Lincoln left its base in San Diego on November 21, 2025, and was initially scheduled for a seven-month mission. However, the crew ended up at sea for a record-breaking period, spending 280 days without a port stop.
The ship was reportedly relieved of duty in late August by the USS George Washington. Then the crew got their first port stop in Thailand in September for a rest and relaxation break.
PEOPLE noted that beyond the logistical challenges of the extended deployment, there were reports that the quality of life for the sailors on board had degraded heavily. The mission has also drawn significant scrutiny due to reports of food shortages, water contamination, and broken plumbing, including malfunctioning toilets.
Furthermore, a letter from acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in late September revealed that there were eight reported suicide attempts across the aircraft carrier group during the deployment. The Lemoore Police Department is currently investigating the burglary.
Published: Sep 28, 2026 06:45 am