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Seabees Complete Mission aboard Comfort

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071014-02
Release Date: 10/14/2007 8:30:00 PM

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

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Seabees from Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202, attached to hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), helped complete a four-month humanitarian assistance and training deployment to 12 Latin American and Caribbean nations.

Seabees from CBMU 202 repaired, renovated and completed construction projects at 27 sites, improving the lives of thousands.

“Most of the sites we visited and worked in couldn’t afford to perform their own renovations,” said Equipment Operator 1st Class Manuel Gradillas, a Seabee attached to CBMU 202. “The sites spent their money on medicine instead. We helped maintain their facilities so the doctors and nurses can stay focused on their patients.”

CBMU 202 had varying missions at each site, and performed work at clinics, hospitals, orphanages, special needs schools, elementary schools and playgrounds. Electricity was repaired, walls were painted and running water was reestablished as some of the sites. Their biggest project was building a health clinic in Colombia.

“The work we did in Colombia had a big impact on me,” said Equipment Operator 3rd Class Nathan Harper, a Seabee attached to CBMU 202. “The townspeople really jumped in and helped us build their clinic. It’s great seeing how people live in other countries and how appreciative they were of our help.”

This mission was unlike any other the Seabees have faced, because they are usually attached to shore- or land-based units. Being on a ship was a new experience that brought new challenges.

“Because of the success of this humanitarian mission, Seabees will most likely be a part of future humanitarian missions aboard hospital ships,” Gradillas said. “It has been a new learning environment for us – we have had to get used to wall lockers, ‘coffin’ racks and the swaying of the ship. We have learned how to ‘stow for sea’ so that our equipment doesn’t get damaged from the ship rocking back and forth!”

The lives they touched through their work will have a lasting impression for years to come, and has been well appreciated.

“The guys were out there, working hard, working together and did a great job,” said Ensign Leonard Neal, officer in charge of CBMU 202. “They did unbelievable work and completed the mission without complaining, hesitation or reserve. I only wish we could have visited fewer countries and stayed in each country longer to get more work accomplished.”

Comfort has completed its humanitarian mission and will stop in Norfolk Oct. 15 to debark approximately 500 crew members, who will return to their home units and parent commands, including CBMU 202.

The ship’s permanently-assigned personnel and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners will travel to the ships’ layberth in Baltimore later in the week.