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Mercy Humanitarian Mission to Begin

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060419-07
4/19/2006

From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- The U.S. Naval hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) is scheduled to depart its San Diego homeport April 24, in support of a five-month humanitarian assistance mission to the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Following logistics stops along the way, Mercy should arrive in the Philippines in mid- to late May.

The ship’s mission is being coordinated with host nations in the region and is being carried out in conjunction with non-governmental relief organizations to provide medical, dental and other humanitarian assistance programs ashore and afloat.

“The deployment of USNS Mercy to Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific exemplifies the United States’ commitment to working together with our friends, partners, and the regional community,” said Adm. Gary Roughead, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. “By deploying the Mercy, we are training our medical crew in order to better prepare them to respond in times of disaster relief and armed conflict.”

Mercy is deploying with civilian mariners, military personnel, and members of non-governmental organizations. The Mercy humanitarian mission will be led by Capt. Bradley Martin. The commanding officer of the Medical Treatment Facility aboard is Capt. Joseph L. Moore. Civilian mariner Capt. Robert Wylie is the ship’s master.

The medical crew aboard Mercy is trained to provide general surgery, ophthalmology surgery, basic medical evaluation and treatment, preventative medicine treatment, dental screenings and treatment, optometry screenings, eyewear distribution, public health training and veterinary services.

A Seabee detachment from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 from Port Hueneme, Calif., will perform civic action repair and minor construction projects in the host countries.

The Navy Showband from Norfolk, Va., will join Mercy while deployed. The band will provide outreach and entertainment to local populations where assistance work is taking place.

Last year, Mercy performed a similar mission following the December 2004 tsunami that struck Southeast Asia. Medical personnel aboard performed 19,512 medical procedures for more than 9,500 patients in Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea.

“Many Americans are from the Asia-Pacific region, and we have strong ties to family members, friends and co-workers with roots in the region,” said Roughead. “It is natural we should want to be good neighbors.”

Like all naval forces, Mercy can rapidly respond to a range of situations on short notice. Mercy is uniquely capable of supporting medical and humanitarian assistance needs, and has been configured with special medical equipment and a robust multi-specialized medical team to provide a range of services ashore as well as on board the ship.