USNS COMFORT Past Missions (prior to 2009):
Partnership for the Americas – From June – Oct. 2007, USNS COMFORT conducted a four-month humanitarian assistance mission to Latin America and the Caribbean that treated more than 98,000 people in 12 countries. For this unique mission, the ship’s hospital was staffed by medical professionals from the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Public Health Service as well as Canadian troops and civilian volunteers from a number of nonprofit organizations.
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita – From Sept. – Oct. 2005, COMFORT deployed to provide medical assistance to the Gulf Coast following the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. During 12 days in Pascagoula, Miss., Comfort’s medical crew provided treatment to nearly 1,500 people. The ship then pulled into New Orleans, La., and provided care to residents and emergency workers.
Operation Iraqi Freedom – From Jan. – June 2003, COMFORT deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During 56 days in the Persian Gulf, Comfort served as an afloat trauma center and provided expert medical care to nearly 700 people including wounded U.S. military personnel as well as about 200 injured Iraqi civilians.
Operation Noble Eagle – COMFORT activated the afternoon of Sept. 11, 2001, in response to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. From Sept. 14 – Oct. 1, COMFORT was pierside in Manhattan where the ship’s crew provided meals, housing, medical and psychological services to volunteer and relief workers at ground zero.
Operation Uphold Democracy – From Sept. – Oct. 1994, COMFORT deployed to provide combat surgical support for U.S. contingency operations in Haiti off the city of Port-Au-Prince. COMFORT medical personnel provided a 250-bed hospital facility for the 35,000 Cuban and Haitian migrants and assisted in an effort to rebuild the local health care system.
Operation Sea Signal – From June – Aug. 1994, COMFORT arrived at Kingston, Jamaica to function as the first-ever U.S. afloat migrant processing center for Haitian migrants. COMFORT provided basic support services, and the medical crew aboard the ship established one operating room and a 50-bed inpatient capability.
Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm – From Aug. 1990 - April 1991, COMFORT deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations to treat wounded U.S. military personnel. The ship’s medical personnel saw more than 8,000 outpatients, admitted 700 inpatients and performed 337 complex surgical procedures that could not have been done in combat hospitals ashore.