• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Mercy Returns from Successful Humanitarian Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061002-03
Release Date: 10/2/2006 11:34:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jose R. Rolon, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The naval hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) returned to Naval Base San Diego after a five-month Western Pacific humanitarian deployment Sept. 29.

Mercy deployed to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the people of the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia and East Timor.

“I think they did a super job, taking care of all the people in the entire area they were assigned to,” said Rear Adm. Brian Brannman, the Naval Medical Center San Diego commander. “Plus they revisited the area devastated by the tsunami, making a positive difference having another facility to help and bring healthcare for the needy.”

The deployment has been a model of cooperation and deliberate planning with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and demonstrates the Navy’s commitment to bringing security, help and hope to those in need.

“When it comes down to the job of humanitarian assistance, you get involved in providing healthcare,” said Brannman. “There’s no distinction between military and NGOs because it's all about providing healthcare. Everybody worked together like one team.”

Mercy deployed in an innovative way, utilizing a creative approach to provide the type and level of care needed to aid people of the region. The humanitarian assistance crew, many of them NGOs, took advantage of Mercy’s Computerized Tomography (CAT scan) testing and state of the art operating rooms, especially for more complex cases.

Brannam said the Mercy treated everything from bruises to major medical procedures, like clef palettes and reconstruction facial surgery, and took care of people who had previous untreated traumatic wounds.

Military health care professionals from Canada, India, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia made up another significant part of the Mercy team.

According to Capt. Joseph Moore, Mercy commanding officer, the crew did a tremendous job in humanitarian assistance in four nations, and took care of more than 60,000 people in need.

“I’m glad to be home with my family," said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Ronald Bayaca, a radiology technician aboard Mercy. "The deployment was a big success and now I’m ready to go home.”