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USNS Comfort Departs Mississippi

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050920-06
Release Date: 9/20/2005 9:24:00 PM

By Journalist Seaman Heather Weaver, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (NNS) -- The hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed Pascagoula, Miss., Sept. 20 after spending ten days providing medical and dental care, and disaster relief assistance to the citizens of Pascagoula and surrounding areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

As Hurricane Rita approaches the Gulf of Mexico region, many Navy assets in the Gulf region are preparing to get underway to ride out the storm.

“Our ship must leave to be in a position to be out of the storm’s path in time,” said Ship's Master Capt. Tom Finger.

Despite the early exit from Pascagoula, Comfort leadership is proud of the large amount of work done in so little time.

"I am pleased to have had the opportunity to come here to Pascagoula and provide the services and goodwill we were able to as one medical team,” said Capt. Thomas Allingham, commanding officer of the Medical Treatment Facility aboard Comfort. “It is my hope the greater community here in the Gulf region is indeed benefiting from the support our forces have been able to bring to the area."

While in Pascagoula, Comfort medical personnel and Project HOPE volunteers provided patient care for more than 1,200 patients on board the ship. An additional 400 Pascagoula residents received primary care at the outlying clinics ashore operated by Project HOPE volunteers.

Comfort medical staff conducted 19 surgeries aboard the ship, including an emergency appendectomy on a young boy who had been medically evacuated to the ship.

In addition to medical and dental support, Sailors and Project HOPE volunteers spent days providing disaster relief in the form of various community relations projects within the Pascagoula community. Many of the projects were conducted in coordination with the Salvation Army, already working in the community when Comfort arrived.

Salvation Army Capt. Karl Dahlin came aboard Comfort to personally thank the commanding officer for the assistance provided.

“The arrival of the Comfort and its crew have given this community something to hold onto,” said Dahlin. “When it seemed like no one else would come to help, this ship and its crew arrived to give a tremendous boost to all of us here.”

Allingham added that on behalf of the crew he wished to thank the people of Mississippi for their welcome and hospitality during the ship’s time in Pascagoula.