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U.S. 4th Fleet Commander Visits Comfort in Nicaragua, Praises Mission Success

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090718-02
Release Date: 7/18/2009 10:43:00 AM

By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton

CORINTO, Nicaragua (NNS) -- The commander of U.S. 4th Fleet visited hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) and Continuing Promise 2009 (CP09) teams July 8.

"I'm impressed by the work you have done," said Rear Adm. Victor Guillory. "Your efforts here are toward the common purpose of working with our partners to improve interoperability and to help people in the region. Continuing Promise reflects our goal to working cooperatively with our neighbors and partners, particularly in this region, to build partner capacity and trust."

Guillory toured Comfort and many of the medical, dental and engineering sites ashore as part of the CP09 mission.

CP09 combines U.S. military and interagency personnel, nongovernmental organizations, civil service mariners, academic and partner nations to provide medical, dental, veterinary, educational and engineering services afloat and ashore alongside host nation personnel.

CP09 provides an opportunity not only to provide humanitarian assistance but also to learn from host nation partners and train a diverse team of experts who are able to respond to a regional crisis.

Guillory thanked all the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international partners for their contributions to the mission, to include members from Antigua, Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, and Panama as well as the U.S. Public Health Service, Project Hope, Latter Day Saints Charities and students and volunteers from the University of California, San Diego Pre-Dental Society.

"This has quite possibly been the biggest humanitarian assistance mission for us and especially for our NGOs," said Capt. James J. Ware, commanding officer of the hospital aboard Comfort. "We're changing lives and emotions every day."

"As the name Continuing Promise indicates, 4th Fleet's commitment to this mission and to partnership building in the region is continuous," said Guillory. "We are in the initial planning stages for Continuing Promise 2010, and I look forward to building on what you are doing here today for many years to come."

Comfort is scheduled to be in Nicaragua, the final stop of the CP09 mission, through July 14. The ship has partnered with host nation health care providers to treat more than 80,000 patients in the seven countries of the mission. These include: Antigua and Barbuda, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti and Panama.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.