• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Hospital Ship Comfort Bound For Home

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030509-06

Release Date: 5/9/2003 5:05:00 PM

From USNS Comfort Public Affairs

ABOARD USNS COMFORT, At Sea (NNS) -- In the northern Arabian Gulf, the last of Comfort's patients were transferred to medical facilities ashore this week, as the ship prepares to go home. After four months away and 56 days on station in the Arabian Gulf participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is ordered to return to its homeport in Baltimore, Md.

Comfort's activation for Operation Enduring Freedom and subsequent role in OIF marks the longest deployment of either of the Navy's two hospital ships, since both were deployed to the region for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm 12 years ago.

"Comfort has been quite active in the last three years," according to Capt. Charles Blankenship, commanding officer of the medical treatment facility aboard Comfort. "This crew has faced some challenges during this operation and done well. Our readiness is as high as it has ever been. The president's challenge to the military after 9/11 was 'Be Ready'. The CNO (Chief of Naval Operations) has challenged us to 'keep that focus,' and we will."

Blankenship recently met with the entire crew as the ship's mission was winding down, and told everyone to enjoy some time off with family when they return home, but also reminded them to "keep your bags packed" - something he has expressed to his crew many times since the ship was activated to provide support during rescue operations in New York City following the attacks on Sept. 11.

Having treated nearly 330 inpatients, most of which were combat related injuries, this has been the most operationally significant role for a Navy hospital ship since the Vietnam War, when USS Repose (AH 16) treated more than 9,000 battle casualties and USS Sanctuary (AH 17) spent a record 121 days on the line.

According to Cmdr. Tommy Stewart, who served as a corpsman during the Vietnam War, and later took a commission as a Navy nurse, "Many of our providers on Comfort have never experienced the types of injuries associated with combat weaponry. As healers, we don't like to see our brothers and sisters in the armed forces get injured in combat, but it is our duty to ensure they get the best medical treatment available."

Lt. j.g. Rachael Stephenson, who had no previous trauma experience, indicated that the staff prepared she and the other junior nurses and corpsmen well for the types of injuries they would encounter. However, she added, "Nothing takes the place of hands on experience. I can take that experience back with me and prepare others."

Stewart added, "This was extremely valuable experience for the junior personnel, because they are the next generation of combat casualty care providers. Now they will be able to enter any future combat operations with the knowledge and experience gained from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Most of those who trained during the Vietnam era have retired. Now the remaining few of us can stand relieved of the watch, as this generation stands ready to assume the watch."

As Comfort prepares to depart the Gulf, about 230 crew members will fly back to the United States, leaving about 340 medical and support staff aboard for the return voyage. While the exact schedule is not known at the time of this release, the ship should return to homeport in late May or early June.

Comfort deployed Jan. 6 as an effort to reposition forces for possible military actions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.