For nine months from 2 August 2002, to 27 April 2003, "Reuben James" deployed to the Persian Gulf and participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three, the "Abraham Lincoln" Battle Group. After serving approximately six months in theater, "Reuben James" started to make its way back to Pearl Harbor. On New Year's Day 2003, while in port in Brisbane, Australia, the ship was ordered to turn around and go back to the Persian Gulf and the deployment was extended indefinitely. Finally, after an extended deployment of almost nine months, the "Abraham Lincoln" Battle Group was relieved by . This deployment was extremely long, breaking a number of records, including the longest deployment ever for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.