During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the hospital ship USNS Comfort—crewed by members of the SIU’s Government Services Division—treated more than 650 patients, including about 200 Iraqi prisoners of war and Iraqi civilians. More than 600 surgeries were performed aboard the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) vessel, and nearly 600 units of blood were transfused.Last month, the Comfort’s crew and medical personnel finally got their turn for a little TLC as the vessel returned to Baltimore.
“Short and sweet,” Bosun Gerald Butch said of the five-month deployment, comparing it to the nine months he spent aboard the Comfort during the Persian Gulf War. “It was a successful trip.”
Electrician John Morgan noted, “Although we stopped at the fewest amount of ports and had the least amount of liberty, it was the most rewarding trip.” Morgan added that once during the mission he wanted to return home, but after talking with some of the patients, he believed he could best serve his country by remaining on board.
MSC conducted a ceremony for the crew and military-medical personnel immediately upon the ship’s arrival in Baltimore June 13.
“We showed the world the United States cares about the world,” said Vice Admiral James L. Brewer III, commander of MSC. “We couldn’t have done it without you. Welcome home, shipmates.”
Brewer presented each of the mariners with the Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal, awarded to those who serve on U.S.-flag ships in support of operations involving American and allied armed forces.
SIU President Michael Sacco also addressed the gathering. “Both in the war against terrorism and in the war to liberate the Iraqi people, America has been reminded of the importance of our merchant marine,” he said. “Whether they’re CIVMARS or they’re employed in the private-sector fleet, U.S. mariners have answered the call—just as we’ve done throughout our nation’s history.”
At its peak during the war, the 894-foot Comfort carried approximately 60 CIVMARS and 1,000 medical specialists. Many of the medical personnel are from the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
The vessel is equipped with 1,000 hospital beds and 12 operating rooms. In addition to assisting in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the ship helped with Haitian migrant operations in the Caribbean in 1994. The vessel also has participated in various multinational military and humanitarian exercises, according to MSC.
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, the Comfort was activated and directed to New York City. The ship’s crew and the medical staff provided sleeping quarters, meals, laundry services and medical treatment to relief workers.
MSC normally operates about 120 civilian-crewed, noncombatant ships for a variety of missions around the world. That number expanded to 214 in March as additional ships were activated from reduced operating status or were chartered for the command’s support of U.S. forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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