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Colombia Welcomes USNS Comfort

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070824-05
Release Date: 8/24/2007 9:37:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elizabeth Allen, USNS Comfort Public Affairs

BUENAVENTURA, Colombia (NNS) -- An opening ceremony was conducted Aug. 22 for hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), marking its arrival to Buenaventura.

The ceremony began with the Colombian National Anthem, followed by the U.S. National Anthem performed by the Colombian Naval Band from Bahia Malaga.

Speeches were made by Col. Hector Julio Pachon Canon, acting commandant for Naval Forces Pacific; Jaime Osvaldo Marines, acting mayor; Capt. Mark Morris, U.S. naval mission chief; and Capt. Bob Kapcio, Comfort mission commander. They spoke of partnership and commitment between the two nations and the expectations for the time Comfort will be in Colombia.

“The opening ceremony signifies the relationship we would like to establish with Colombia,” said Lt. Diana Garcia, a Colombia native attached to Comfort. “I hope that we get a lot of people here that we can help. Colombia is a beautiful country, and we would like to embrace them and show them what we can do and that we are here to build friendships.”

The ceremony ended with a traditional music performance by members of the Universidad de Pacifica Band.

Comfort’s six-day humanitarian mission to Colombia will include adult and pediatric medical care, dentistry, optometry and veterinary services as well as new construction and repairs in various locations in the Bahia Malaga area. Sites will include the Buenaventura Coliseum, Bahia Malaga, Buenaventura Hospital, and La Sierpe, where Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202 Seabees will construct a new medical facility.

“Colombia is the eighth of 12 countries we are providing assistance to in the Latin America and Caribbean area,” said Kapcio. “We are looking forward to helping our friends here in Colombia; medically aboard Comfort and at sites in town, and through the construction projects we have planned.”

Comfort is currently on a four-month humanitarian to Latin America and the Caribbean providing medical treatment to a dozen countries.