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Peru Hosts Closing Ceremony for USNS Comfort

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070814-12
Release Date: 8/14/2007 2:21:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Karsten, USNS Comfort Public Affairs

TRUJILLO, Peru (NNS) -- Hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) finished its week-long visit to Peru with a closing ceremony in Trujillo Aug. 12.

The ceremony was held at the Ramon Zavala Trujillo General Quarter of 32nd Infantry Brigade, a Peruvian military base, and was hosted by President Jose Murgia of the La Libertad region. The Peruvian army performed a marching demonstration with music, as well as both nations’ national anthems.

Speeches of gratitude and partnership were given by U.S. Army Col. Jeffrey Fargo, chief, U.S. Military Assistance and Advisory Group, Peru, and Peruvian army General J. Agreda and Murgia. Gifts from Peruvian officials were also presented to Capt Bob. Kapcio, Comfort mission commander as well as Capt. Bruce Boynton, commanding officer of Comfort’s medical treatment facility, and the ship’s civilian master, Capt. Ed Nanartowich. The ceremony ended with a Peruvian folk dance demonstration from students Alvako Coello and Lupita Carrion.

The Comfort team provided primary adult and pediatric medical care, dentistry, optometry and veterinary services as well as construction projects to four sites in Peru, which included the Miguel Grau School, Sanchez Carrion School, Jose Alaya School and Trujillo Regional Hospital.

“It was a very good week,” Kapcio said. “It was very organized and we were able to meet all of our goals and objectives.”

The people of Peru were very compassionate and giving which made this visit to Peru so special, added Kapcio. “The people here were such wonderful hosts and that makes it hard to leave.”

Comfort will visit Ecuador next, continuing its four-month humanitarian deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean. The ship is providing medical treatment to patients in a dozen countries.