A new school for Villa Nueva, Nicaragua

CAPT Tom Negus, CP09 Mission Commander:

The heat was severe, the work never ending, but the end was all that mattered. Under the baking heat of the Nicaraguan sun, UT1 Faulds and his team of Seabees kept hammering, kept wiring, kept working on. For ten days his team endured these conditions as they slowly, methodically, yet always professionally replaced over 8,000 square feet of new roofing on the village school in the town of Villa Nueva, Nicaragua. I had the honor to visit them a few days into their work, and was privileged to participate yesterday in a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the finished job.

What I remember from my first visit was the incredible heat up on the roof as they placed sheet after sheet of corrugated roofing over the trestles they reinforced. I remember the expanse of the school, and thinking to myself that perhaps they bit off more than they could chew with this job (of course, they certainly proved me wrong!). I remember the picture of Fidel Castro still posted to one of the school house walls. And I remember the attitude of all of the Seabees-one of calm professionalism and pride in what lay before them.

Yesterday at the ribbon cutting was a different matter altogether—Seabees were there, as always, sweaty and proud, standing in ranks beneath the omni-present heat. So was the US Ambassador, Robert Callahan, along with the Mayor of Villa Nueva, and the Mayor of neighboring Somotillo. There was a large number of press, and many cameras, and even more microphones to record all of our respective remarks. But what struck me most about yesterday were the school children, dressed in their clean white uniforms, sitting and watching, wandering through the much cooler interior of their new school thanks to the insulating tiles the Seabees installed beneath the new roof.

Some were playful, some pensive—but all were there to see their new school, with a new roof, and new doors, and new paint, and new wiring and new fans in each classroom . I watched some boys play basketball with a deflated volleyball on the central court where the Seabees had installed new basketball goals, I watched some girls as they walked a couple paces behind the “official party” as UT1 showed the Ambassador, the principal, and the Mayor his team’s work.

There is a new school in Villa Nueva, and though all the adults present know and could see the changes that had come in the ten days of work, it was these children who absorbed the most—this was to be their home where their dreams, their choices, and their character will be forged over the coming years. I think they knew more than we, the impact this work would have on their lives.

As I turned to leave for the final time, a sadness descended as I ruminated that our CONTINUING PROMISE mission was nearly complete. Then I heard the children laughing, and realized that the gift that these Seabees gave will not so quickly fade. For there is a new school in Villa Nueva, and these children will not let their dreams die.

HOPE Comes Full Circle in Latin America

LTGJ Hussein

USNS Comfort (T-AH 20)

As LTJG Hussein Rawji gently lifts his MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter off the flight deck, the pitch and roll of the huge ship beneath him becomes immediately more apparent. He quickly gains altitude to get away from the moving landing pad, and speeds away with a team of Project HOPE volunteers in the jumper seats behind him. They quickly near the remote town of Corinto, Nicaragua, leaving the white hull and giant red crosses of the USNS Comfort, the Navy’s floating hospital, far behind.

The team of doctors, nurses, and midwives volunteering with Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) who are on Lt. Rawji’s helicopter are following a tradition of partnership and co-operation with the US Navy that spans 50 years—back to their namesake, the SS HOPE. The Navy/HOPE team was formed five decades ago, when in 1958 the Navy delivered an ex-supply ship to the infant non-governmental organization (NGO), to be refitted as a hospital ship, the SS Hope, to deliver free health care to the underserved citizens of Latin America and the world.

Hussein has been flying HOPE volunteers all over Latin America for the last three months on the joint Navy/NGO operation Continuing Promise--throughout Haiti, Colombia, Panama, El Salvador. But for Rawji, this flight to Nicaragua is special. It completes a generational circle he couldn’t have dreamed of when he joined the Navy.

Hussein, whose grandparents moved from India to Tanzania, where his parents and he were born, moved to the Miami with his family when he was in high school. He joined the Navy right after graduation, and due to his excellent performance and attitude, was selected to be commissioned as an Officer in 2002. About this time, he made a trip back to Miami to visit his family and met Yesenia Escorcia, the woman who would become his wife three years later. She had moved to Miami from afar as well, coming there with her family as a two-year old.

As Hussein started flight school in 2006, flying in Latin America didn’t even register as a possibility, much less flying in Nicaragua, the land of Yesenia’s heritage.

Yet, here he is, providing high-tech Navy transportation to these HOPE volunteers in rural Corinto, Nicaragua. These volunteers will perform minor and major surgeries, see hundreds of patients, and write thousands of prescriptions—the same work that Yesenia Rawji’s mother, Vilma, did here in Corinto…while she was working onboard the SS Hope nearly 40 years ago.

Project HOPE’s original project, the SS Hope, made a tour of Latin America in the late 1960’s, and stopped here in Corinto. While there, they asked the local medical community for help in delivering primary care and distributing the donated medical supplies. Vilma answered their call, and became one of the earliest HOPE volunteers.

40 years later, having had a daughter, emigrated from her country, and seen her daughter married, Vilma’s legacy of volunteerism, medical aid, and care live on in the next generation.

The ashore landing pad comes into view, and Hussein brings the helo quickly down. As soon as the HOPE volunteers are away, he rises up again and reverses his course—back to the Comfort for the next team of medical professionals ashore. The volunteers squint their eyes to see the helo receding, and as the sound of its steady blades clears the air, they turn towards Corinto—and continue a generation’s worth of work.

Two Perfect Gifts on the Fourth of July on COMFORT

Capt. Tom Negus

CP09 Mission Commander:

As millions of Americans celebrated the 4th of July in traditional ways back home in the States, this signature day was yet another work day for the CONTINUING PROMISE team. We were fortunate to have visiting with us that day the US Surgeon General, RADM Steven Galson, but otherwise it was another work day for us here visiting the Western coast of Nicaragua.
As I toured the sites that day with CAPT James Ware, the Commanding Officer of the Hospital onboard USNS COMFORT and the Surgeon General, I was struck by how appropriate it was that we were working on this Fourth of July day. It seems to me that when we celebrate the Fourth of July, we are celebrating the genius of our forefathers who in their wisdom and perseverance established a social order fundamentally based upon the inherent dignity of the individual. And as I toured our various medical sites dotted around western Nicaragua—that is exactly what I saw in the CONTINUING PROMISE team—respect and compassion from all the medical professionals that approached each individual before them with inherent dignity and concern.
Though the lines were long, and the heat was sweltering, people came from all over the region to be seen by our caring physicians. Each one was accepted with grace and compassion, and I was moved by the simplicity and purity of each encounter. No questions were asked about political party affiliation (apparently quite an issue in Nicaragua), religion, color of skin, or even whether they had shoes on their feet (most did not). All were accepted with the same compassion and concern as every other; and I thought to myself that this truly is one of the finest celebrations of the Fourth of July that I have ever seen…this demonstrated character of compassion that treats all with equality, all with respect, all with inherent dignity so deserved of each individual. A beautiful and perfect gift, I thought, to mark the 4th of July.
That night back aboard ship, as is our daily custom, we recognize a "Person of the Day" as selected by the CP09 Chiefs' Mess. The selection that day was Technical Sergeant Gwin-Goodin--the vocalist for our Air Force band. After receiving her certificate, coin, and requisite photo's, the crew coaxed her into singing a song--and she broke out into the most beautiful rendition of "God Bless America" any of us had ever heard. Very few dry eyes were found in the room during the standing ovation as she finished giving us the second perfect 4th of July gift of the day.

Comfort veterinarians begin work in Nicaragua

Roberta Hughes,
USNS Comfort

Note: USNS Comfort is now in Nicaragua. The veternarians are hard at work treating the animals here in support of Continuing Promise 2009.

We are getting a lot of good receptivity with the rabies pamphlets, and I see people reading them at every place we go. The animals here are very thin and have poor hair coats. The horses are small in body size, and the same goes for the dogs and cats. Sometimes I think I am dealing with a kitten or puppy, and in reality it is an adult.

The cattle seem to be in a bit better condition, although some of them are thin as well. Many farmers don't have adequate pasture for their cattle to graze, so they take them to graze by the side of the roads and other common areas. I haven't seen much quality grass here; instead, the cattle are eating broad-leafed plants and weeds.

The pigs, on the other hand, seem fairly well fleshed.

The Surgeon General of the United States made a brief visit to the ship to learn about Operation Continuing Promise and visited us at our work site.

Comfort says farewell to El Salvador

We celebrated a very well organized and precisely executed closing ceremony yesterday on the Naval Base in La Union, El Salvador. Highlighting the significance placed on the event, and on the CONTINUING PROMISE mission, the Salvadoran participants included their Minister of Defense, General Mungeya Payes; their Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colonel Silva Alvalos; and their CNO, Captain Jimenez. Their President was unfortunately already scheduled to attend the inauguration of the new Panamanian president and was unable to attend, but sent his regards.

I’ve provided the comments I provided to the participants, audience, and people of El Salvador to give some context for what we are trying to accomplish on our Continuing Promise mission:

“Distinguidos invitados y amigos de El Salvador.
Buenos Dias,

From the very first day of our arrival we have been captivated by El Salvador, first by the beauty of the land as we glided gently to our anchorage—perhaps as your history tells us over treasure sunken from long ago; and then as we came ashore and uncovered the real treasure in the hearts of the Salvadorans we met. That is the magic of CONTINUING PROMISE…working side by side with partners, helping, learning, and ultimately experiencing the “metanoia” (Spanish for ‘transformation in attitude of heart’) that changes neighbors into friends. That is what has happened here in El Salvador.

For CONTINUING PROMISE is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to our neighbors in the region—a commitment that is strong, sustained, meaningful, and based upon mutual respect. You could say that commitment is as strong as the steel of the magnificent ship COMFORT, but we both know now, that the true strength of our commitment lies in the hearts of all the people involved.

We have been honored to work side by side with the Ministry of Health, supported by the Ministry of Defense, as we sought to provide the very best in medical, dental, veterinary, engineering and educational services with our friends from El Salvador and for our friends in El Salvador. We could not have been successful without your help.

Of course, the US Navy did not do this alone: we are partnered with and give great thanks to those who have provided health care professionals and educators from Project HOPE, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, University California San Diego Pre-Dental Society, Project Handclasp, and Rotary International. In addition to the services provided, the Continuing Promise team working with local humanitarian organizations donated 105 pallets to those in need in El Salvador. Their efforts show that the whole is certainly greater than the sum of our parts.

We are proud too to have served with international CONTINUING PROMISE teammates from Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, The Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, and of course: El Salvador.

My great friend Alcalde Cruz, Mayor of La Union, asked me if I might return to El Salvador, but his question is unnecessary. After seeing the beauty and the spirit of the people, I—and all of us – will always leave a piece of our hearts in this beautiful country of El Salvador.

On behalf of CAPT Jim Ware, our Medical Treatment Facility Commanding Officer and CAPT Tom Finger, the Captain of the Hospital ship COMFORT and the entire CONTINUING PROMISE team, we deeply appreciate all of the grace, kindness, and hospitality you have shown us throughout our stay.

Though we arrived to your country 11 days ago as neighbors, we are proud and honored now to say that we depart as friends.

Que les vaya bien y muchas gracias.”

Miracles happen everyday...

Capt. Thomas Negus

Mission Commander

CP09

I want to tell you a story that a Doctor from Project HOPE shared with me the other day...A woman brought her 7 month old son into a medical site a couple of days ago for evaluation and consideration for cleft palate surgery. Understanding the impact that a cleft palate would have on the trajectory of this young boy's life, the mother was very anxious that her baby might obtain corrective surgery. Unfortunately, since we had already been in El Salvador for a number of days, all of the surgical time available was booked up. The mother did not know this...while she patiently waited in line carrying her dreams for the future in her arms, she had no way of knowing that the odds were already greatly stacked against her. Yet she persisted, waiting for several hours in the long lines that generally form well before the medical sites are opened.

The mother finally made it into the site, where her baby was carefully checked in, weighed, measured by our on-site corpsmen and volunteers, and directed to the appropriate station for evaluation by a doctor. The mother held the baby in her arms as she sat at the desk that served as the doctor's office, describing her hopes for her son, while the doctor gently examined the young baby. He was very professional and compassionate when he explained that surgery would correct his cleft palate, but that he wasn't sure that there was any more surgical time available. He wanted to make sure that he didn't unnecessarily raise the mother's hopes against the long odds she unknowingly faced. Leaving the mother waiting, he hesitatingly consulted the OR administrators to check the remote possibility that there might somehow be an opening with the surgeons who perform this life-altering surgery. The doctor returned and, when he saw mother and child sitting at the desk with all the hopes of the world wrapped up in that tiny bundle, he said he had to wait several moments to compose himself before he could utter the words "Yes, we have room for your son".

Against all calculations, against all estimates, by a strange and wonderful combination of events, there happened to be one last opening. It was waiting for the precious baby from La Union, whose life will be forever changed thanks to the loving persistence of his mother and the miraculous surgical slot held open just for him.

Luis Eduardo and Andres

LT Cely, USNS Comfort

These adorable young boys, 12 and 10 years, arrived on our ship in Tumaco. I met them while they were in disbelief they had front seats to Juanes’s concert on the flight deck. This was the beginning of 11 days of adventure. They were our guests at the Hotel/2FWD and many times I had to ask myself: Who is having more fun… us or the kids. After learning a little bit of their rough journey thus far on earth, we were able to understand why they were having so much fun with us. How can two boys that have endured so much, seem so happy and be so loveable to strangers? That’s when I was reminded of how pure kids are, how they sense people that are genuine and open to give love unconditionally.
Luis Eduardo was burned at the age of 10 months. He never had a stable home environment, and moved from family member to family member. For a few years his mother used him to beg for money in the streets. A foundation found him and taught him to read, but this didn’t last long since it ran out of money and closed. He fell back into the streets and begged until about 6 months ago when “El Bienestar Familiar” found him and placed him in a foster home.
Andres was burned at the age of 5 while living with his brother and sister under a bridge. His mom works the streets and father is in prison and so they lost custody of the children. It has been about 4 years since Andres and his siblings have been in foster care with the same family.
Maria Jesus, their social worker, worked with the Ministry of health to have them seen at the Max Seidel school upon our arrival. Both were seen on the 1st day, were brought on Sunday since they came six hours by car, with surgery scheduled for Thursday and Friday respectively.
Our attachment w/ the boys was instantaneous. They were the only patients in our unit for a couple of days and got alot of one- to-one care. Before you knew it, they felt very comfortable with all the staff, and we took them everywhere on the ship, so they could have a little change in their environment. This turned into taking them for lunch and dinner to the galley, getting entire tours of the ship, getting into the helicopters, flight deck, bridge and tower, and sitting on the Captains Chair.
I felt that these 11 days with us were life-changing for the boys, while also leaving a footprint in the heart of those of us who shared so much with them. Luis Eduardo made sure that he let us know the following words which I will never forget: “I have never been given so much love in my life… Thank you”. Seeing them off on the flight deck was very challenging, since both couldn’t stop crying and didn’t want to leave. As I saw them walk away into the helicopter, my heart ached and yet I felt so proud to have had those two little souls come into our lives and having been able to bring so much joy into their lives. It reminded me that many times in life so much can be given with so little.
I received an E-mail thanking the Comfort for all that was done for the boys. Both were discharged from the military facility after an agonizing week of physical therapy which Luis Eduardo described as “hell”. The post operative care and physical therapy received was excellent as described by Maria Jesus. Both are back in their foster homes in Ipiales. I look forward to continuing my communication with them via E-mail. Thankfully with my frequent trips to Colombia, I hope to visit them in the future as well.

The most powerful ship in the Navy…

CAPT Negus, CP09 Mission Commander:

You never know what the day will bring. I just returned from lunch onboard COMFORT—yet another delicious meal prepared by the culinary specialists—where I sat down at a random table to meet, eat with, and learn from some of the people that make this mission so remarkable.

I had the good fortune to sit with PR2(AW) Bassallo, a parachute rigger attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26. He is responsible for ensuring the readiness of all the safety related equipment onboard each of our two helicopters. What is so interesting is that he is a Peruvian native, and has been in the Navy for about three years. He obtained his US citizenship through the Navy, and is only four classes shy of a Bachelor’s degree. His brothers are officers in the Peruvian Air Force (so they heartily endorse his work as a parachute rigger!). He spoke about the work he has done while at HSC 26, and the qualifications he has earned; he is no stranger to hard work and is thinking of applying for an officer program upon completion of his college program. The daily challenges of keeping his equipment ready under difficult conditions do not faze him the least.

I learned from him, as I do countless times a day, the strength of this mission lies in the character and diversity of the people involved.

My old theory was that the strength of any organization is a function of the character of the people involved, but my experience during CONTINUING PROMISE 09 has caused me to expand my thinking. As I look around the messdecks, and as I tour the sites far inland at our present location of El Salvador, I see scores of different groups of people who have all come together for this amazing mission: Army reservists working side by side with Project HOPE volunteers; Air Force technicians sweating side by side with private citizens from Latter-Day Saints; Dutch medical professionals laughing side by side with students from UCSD. In all we have had participants from 11 different countries, 18 different non-governmental organizations, and have a host of interagency support throughout our four month long deployment. In fact, my current Political Advisor, Ms. Melissa Francis, is a Foreign Service Officer with USAID stationed in San Salvador. Each person, and each organization, has something unique to offer to this mission. We simply could not do the things we do without everyone involved.

Earlier in the week I ate lunch with one of my sailors, Petty Officer Ruckus, who relayed how a Project HOPE volunteer told him that USNS COMFORT was “the most powerful ship in the Navy”. I thought that was a perfect description of this most magnificent ship.

I now understand that it is the character and diversity of the people onboard that give this ship—and this mission—its tremendous strength, and is found in the transforming magic that happens at every encounter in every country we visit. That combination of character and diversity of the people involved truly makes USNS COMFORT the most powerful ship in the Navy!

Greetings from the 2Aft ward on Comfort

LTjg Deegan, USNS Comfort Nurse:

As a nurse here on the USNS Comfort, I work in the 2 Aft Ward. It is a post-surgical unit comprised of patients from all ages. The men, women, and children return from surgery to the ward to begin the recovery process. The ward is usually busy with patients coming and going. Patients on average stay with us for a night before it is time for them to leave. It is important for us to ensure that the patients and their escorts have everything they need to go home. Often we see ophthalmology, gynecological, orthopedic, and oral-maxillofacial cases. The ward is an open-bay which forces all patients, regardless of gender, age, or type of surgery, to be in one room. This was a tough transition as I was accustomed to private rooms for each patient back at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland where I am currently stationed.

The nurses on 2 Aft work closely with the corpsmen to accomplish the daily tasks needed to maintain a safe and serene place for the patients to recuperate. The nurses are a mix of United States military-active duty and reserves, foreign military and civilian volunteers. All organizations come together to provide competent and compassionate care. The reserve military members and civilian volunteers typically stay for a couple countries before departing.
So far, my favorite part of the mission has been experiencing the many different personalities and cultures of each country we visit. We have been to five countries to date. Each has shown their own unique qualities. In Haiti, the patients were curious and inquisitive. The Dominicans enjoyed playing cards and socializing. Antigua had the island feel. Panamanians were more reserved and the Colombians kept us busy!

It has been great to get to know all of the patients and their stories, especially the ones who stay longer. I am unable to speak Spanish or Haitian Creole. This has made communication at times difficult, but a smile and laugh mean the same in every language.

Commodore Negus takes command, talks about Colombia mission

From CAPT Tom Negus, Mission Commander of Continuing Promise 2009:

Lives forever changed...

Over the last ten or so days, something of incalculable significance was happening in the tiny town of Tumaco on the very southern-most peninsula on the Pacific side of the beautiful country of Colombia. Something so amazing that it could someday transform the world as surely as any other global event. What was this incredible event that had people crying in the streets and yet laughing in each others' arms all at the same time?

It was the visit to this tiny town of the international, interagency, and inter-service team of compassionate humanitarians onboard the USNS COMFORT that came to provide a host of medical, dental, veterinary, and engineering services to the oft-forgotten town of Tumaco, home to almost 200,000 of Colombia's neediest people.

It is my humbling privilege to lead this amazing team as Mission Commander for CONTINUING PROMISE 09. I am CAPT Tom Negus, and I just relieved CAPT Robert "Linus" Lineberry as Mission Commander while this magnificent ship was moored in the harbor of Tumaco, Colombia.

Throughout the 6-17 June visit of the COMFORT over 16,000 Colombian citizens were treated by an inexhaustible team of doctors, nurses, and corpsman of every service from 10 different nations, including Colombian providers. Over 1,100 livestock were treated by dedicated veterinarians, who saved animals lives and farmers' livelihoods in this region of Colombia--an area whose citizenry often make brave decisions in choosing not grow the cocoa leaves as demanded by narco-traffikers. Dentists treated thousands of people who had never been to a dentist in their lives, alleviating pain and discomfort that many had come to accept simply as their lot in life. And the mighty Seabees built an incredible school complex consisting of three classrooms, a kitchen, and --most important judging by the kid's reactions--a brand new playground on a field where previously only a single structure stood before. This new complex is a first for the students of the Exporcal neighborhood; truly the poorest of the poor, where the tidal estuary that snakes beneath their previous school--two stilted schoolroom shacks-- served as both bathing and recreation area and sewer.

There were a host of magical moments, as there are at every stop along this incredible journey called "CONTINUING PROMISE 09", too innumerable to count, as the spark of compassion generated by genuine human to human interaction amongst people who otherwise might never have know of the other brightens the spirit of all who participate. And it is truly that spark, generated one encounter at a time, one patient at a time, that makes CONTINUING PROMISE truly a magical journey. The magic that changes conditions, and changes attitudes, and changes lives--a magic that can someday change even countries and continents--all done one smile at a time.

The Mayor of Tumaco--my friend Neftali Correa Diaz--told me as I was leaving, that history will now record the story of 365 year-old Tumaco in two parts: …time before COMFORT, and time after COMFORT...". Well my friend, I thought to myself, it is I who has been changed; for I believe I will in the future measure my life in terms of before and after this wonderful town of Tumaco.

Comfort Nurse talks about his experiences

ENS Jonathan Aukeman, Nurse onboard USNS Comfort:

In March of this year I walked on the USNS Comfort as a member of a group from the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD to begin a four month humanitarian mission to countries in Central and South America. I spoke little Spanish and along with my coworkers had little insight into making the transition from a typical U.S. hospital mindset to the operational mindset needed for 8-10 day missions working on a ship in an open-bay ward.

Most of my time on the mission, I have worked down on the 2 AFT post surgical Ward, caring for patients aboard the ship. Following recovery in the PACU, the large majority of patients are brought down the elevator to 2 AFT. On the unit, staff from a variety of cultures, including Active Duty Navy Nurses and Corpsmen, nurses and assistants from the Church of Latter Day Saints, Canadian Nurses and Medics, Air Force Nurses, United States Navy Reserve Nurses and Corpsmen, Project Hope Nurses, and Army Medics have collaborated to create an optimally performing unit. I think most people would say (or would say they think) providing humanitarian healthcare and services is a great thing to do, likewise, the staff on 2 AFT realizes the uniqueness of the opportunity we have been enabled to provide.

Nursing and providing compassionate service to others is in most circumstances a very rewarding job. Working on the 2 AFT Ward, that has definitely been true. Like most people, I want to know that my work is producing something. To be able to point to something, for example a number of people fed, and say “This was worth it.”

In that spirit, I recognize that today I handed out meals to roughly 70 patients and escorts. Clearly, there is only so much you can do in 8-10 day’s time; however, for surgical patients the difference is beyond doubt.

One of the most humbling experiences for me has been requests for autographs by patients, that we have been able to go talk and interact with patients makes a critical impression. The impression made has been significant to all involved.

Goodbye from Captain Lineberry

Captain Bob Lineberry, outgoing Continuing Promise 2009 Mission Commander:

It has been an honor to be the Mission Commander for CONTINUING PROMISE 09, the men and women of the incredibly gratifying mission have been absolutely dedicated to bring these essential healthcare services to thousands who are in need.

Over the past five countries our international humanitarian team onboard COMFORT has provide essential healthcare to over 60,000 individuals who might have never had access to such services. They have done this with an unbelievable dedication and passion for the past 2 ½ months, only stopping to consider what else might be done to help those in need. I have a new appreciation for those that serve to bring healthcare to others and to those that give without want, our humanitarian organizations that we have been fortunate to team with during CP09. Continuing Promise has provided us with an excellent opportunity for all our team mates to participate in building relationships, strengthen partnerships and help bring security and prosperity to others in the Americas.

My relief, CAPT Tom Negus is a good friend and outstanding leader that will continue the promise, bring hope and reassure our strong commitment to partners and friends as we face challenges together. I thank you all for your wonderful support and God Bless!

Juanes Made My Day in Colombia!!

LT Dinorah Cely, USNS Comfort:

I must say, Colombia being one of the countries on our Humanitarian journey was a tremendous motivator for me. As a native Colombian I felt such pride to be coming and assisting my beautiful people. Finding out that Juanes was joining forces with our mission here in Tumaco, validated what I have always thought of this amazing human being. He is really a man of his word and makes it a point to remind his people that they are not forgotten, no matter what region of Colombia they live in or what their social status may be.

While waiting for Juanes in CASREC, my anxiety was high, but I knew I had to stay calm and focused. He is the composer/writer of all his own music, and writes about the reality of life, struggle of the people in Colombia and reminds us that we must not lose hope or faith in what this country and its people can accomplish together. His charisma and humanitarian heart exceeds his artistic talent by far. For Colombian’s living in the USA, he represents pride, hope, commitment and resilience. He is known for being Colombia’s best Ambassador, and this is one of the biggest reasons I am such a fan and why I was so ecstatic to have the pleasure of meeting him.

Juanes turned out to be nicer than I had imagined, he is humble and down to earth. He put me at ease from the moment I introduced myself and it was just so enjoyable being around him. My most memorable experience was his interaction with the children in the inpatient unit. I loved the one on one attention he gave the children and their caretaker by requesting no media coverage so that he could give them his undivided attention.

Having being a part of this event was a privilege and one I will never forget.

Little girl in Colombia wins hearts of CP09 team

LT Albert Cruz, Civil Affairs, ACE Team:

CP09: The Story of a Civil Affairs Officer and the Young Girl with the Broken Crutch at Max Seidel School, Tumaco, Colombia. She has been, so far, the highlight of my trip. Asking her mother about the young girl's disability, her mother replied she stepped on a live electrical wire when she was young. Although she's handicapped, she's bubbly and has a warm heart...always asking questions, and always wanting "peluchos" (stuffed animals). That's how we came in contact. She won me over after that. The part that moved me besides her spirit was that her single crutch broke. The bolt broke off. It was an old crusted crutch with tape and rust. She was happy of that crutch. Anyhow, she came to me and asked me if I could fix it. It took me 10 seconds to realize we had a Physical Therapy Unit who have wheelchairs and to my surprise new crutches. Without saying anything to her I walked her to the two corpsman, asked them for a favor, and sure enough, they gave her new crutches. The look on her face was priceless. She looked up at me and smiled. The two corpsman were nice enough to give her two pairs. In short, it was a moving moment, making the trip, the long nights, the headache, and sunburn all worth it.

We are in Tumaco, Colombia!

Greetings from Capt. Bob Lineberry, Mission Commander of Continuing Promise 2009!

What an incredible start in Tumaco, Colombia! The Colombian officials, US Embassy and the people of Tumaco were very ready for COMFORT and our humanitarian team. The first few days here we have been extremely successful seeing many patients and have scheduled 215 surgeries onboard COMFORT.

We were honored to have the coolest US diplomat of all time Ambassador Brownfield onboard COMFORT. A proud Texan and icon in Latin America, he had the crowd and media going full speed all day. His good friend by his side was Juanes, a true humanitarian and superstar, Juanes performed two concerts on the first day of the medical operation at the opening ceremony and for the crew onboard COMFORT that evening. Juanes was gracious enough to lend his support for the CONTINUING PROMISE mission and accepted donations for his organization Mi Sangre Foundation to help victims of anti-personnel mines and is a Goodwill Ambassador for United for Colombia, a non-profit organization that raises awareness about the impact of land mines within Colombia.

Our hard-charging Seabees are building three school buildings and a kitchen in Exporcol neighborhood, working with local residents the school rising is going to provide much needed space for children to attend school without doing it in shifts. This is our biggest engineering project for CONTINUING PROMISE 09.

Panama mission completed

Greetings from Captain Bob Lineberry, Continuing Promise 2009 Mission Commander:

It was an impressive performance by our humanitarian team in Colon, Panama. It was the second time Comfort was there in the past two years and the Panamanian officials prepared their team for an all hands effort. There were numerous medical professionals from Colon and all across the country to meet our team on the first day and we worked side-by-side throughout the mission.
Onboard COMFORT we conducted 174 surgeries and saw a total of 13,758 patients at 3 different medical sites. Our veterinarians on the ground saw 1,065 animals, mostly livestock and in the little town of Escuela Efrain Tejada, I was able to see them operate on a dog that was in need of some serious repair to relieve his suffering.

Our hardworking and always impressive Seabees worked at 3 different site this time out. At Puerto Escondido Medical Clinic they installed metal louvered windows, replaced interior doors, repaired sink and toilet, installed chain link fence around facility with one vehicle access gate, one pedestrian gate and double barbed wire with concertina wire on fence top to provide much needed security for the clinic. They also worked on a neighboring ball field, bringing it back to life by replacing 850 feet of 5 and 8-ft chain link fencing and poles, repaired a damaged roof on both dugouts, installed fall prevention fencing along the back of bleachers and filled and leveled the infield and outfield. The neighborhood kids helped too! Hi Mrs. Buchanan.

The U.S. Embassy and Military Group in Panama played a huge role setting us up for success, AMB Stephenson made several visits to Colon to assist and the President of Panama visited our sites and COMFORT to see firsthand our partnership in action with Panamanian healthcare providers.

Our international humanitarian team has grown, we have doctors from Brazil and a dentist from Panama to assist in our next stop in Tumaco, Colombia. First day there our good friend, superstar and humanitarian Juanes will team up with us to setup for our 12-day mission.

Mary's Story

Ali Bowden, RN (LDS Charities:

Yesterday I was blessed to witness the joy that come of strong faith and small miracles. All of the patients I have had the opportunity to care for here aboard the Comfort have a story, but there are definitely some that will remain with me forever; such is the story of Mary Christopher.

Mary was and elderly woman who was brought to our unit post-operatively, after having a cataract removed from her left eye. I helped her to settle into her steel bunk bed, did a thorough assessment, but quickly became busy with other patients – patients who I felt needed more immediate attention. As I worked, however, I began to notice someone softly singing – almost indiscernibly. I looked over to where the sound was coming from, and saw Mary, lying on her side, a huge blue patch over her operative eye, singing quietly to herself. I immediately stopped what I was doing and went to sit with her; and this is how I came to know Mary’s story.

Mary had known that she needed cataract surgery, but had been told by a doctor in Cuba (the closest facility to Antigua that could/would perform this type of surgery) that ‘it wasn’t bad enough yet,’ and that she would have to wait for another year before they would even consider operating. She was discouraged by this as her sight was already severely impaired, and returning to Cuba would be difficult, if not impossible, for her to arrange.

When Mary heard rumor that the USNS Comfort would be coming to Antigua to offer free medical services, she had great hopes that she would see a doctor and get the surgery that she knew she needed so desperately. However, after two full days of standing amid the chaotic mass of people outside the St. John’s Multi-purpose center (where the USNS Comfort providers had set up their ophthalmology clinic), she had not even been successful at obtaining a wrist band – the precious wrist band that would secure her an appointment with the eye doctor. The next day was Sunday and, although Mary wanted desperately to try her luck at the clinic again, she decided that it was more important that she go to church - to worship her Lord and to celebrate Mother’s Day with her family.

On Monday morning, Mary woke at two o’clock a.m. to be sure that she was in line at the clinic by three a.m.. All morning she stood her ground, despite the loud, pushing, and sometimes aggressive crowd. She says she was often worried that she would be pushed over and trampled among the crazy mass of people. Then, a policeman who was manning the throng, noticed Mary struggling to maintain her position and balance; he shoved thought the crowd, approached her and, scolding the others for not being more respectful of this elderly woman, took her to the front of the line.

Mary was then taken by one of the US Military officers to the registration table; she received her arm band, and was lead into the clinic to have her appointment with the ophthalmologist. Two days later, her surgery has been successful and she sits quietly on the 2 AFT Ward, aboard the USNS Comfort, singing a song of praise. After Mary tells me her story, she closes her good eye and begins to sing again - this time much louder, and with greater feeling:

“Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely?
and long for heaven and home.

When Jesus is my portion,
My constant friend is he.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

I sing because I am happy.
I sing because I am free.

For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.”

Mary repeatedly thanks the Lord, and expresses sincere gratitude to all of us who have cared for her; for we have been an answer to her prayers. She reminds me that the Lord loves his children, and that is mindful of their every need. In her own words: “When me think He no hear, He hear. When me think me prayers no go, He always answer.”

I feel blessed to be a part of Mary’s joy, and to be reminded of this truth – that strong faith in a loving and all knowing God, brings about small, and sometimes great, miracles.

Antigua and Barbuda mission complete

From Capt. Bob Lineberry, Continuing Promise 2009 mission commander:

We have completed our mission on the Island of 365 Beaches. Although we did not see much beach time, with the exception of a few nurses, we did see to the needs of many. During our mission, we seen over 12,000 individual patients and provided nearly 43,000 separate healthcare services and conducted 161 surgeries to the people of Antigua and Barbuda. We had the opportunity to celebrate Nurses Week over the past several days, nurturing information sharing and gaining a true sense of compassionate service to others. During Nurse Week there were six nurses from Antigua and six nurses from COMFORT's team up to screen over 400 patients for blood pressure and diabetes, as well as providing Healthcare counseling at three different sites throughout the Island.

Our Veterinary team stayed extremely busy on both Islands seeing to the needs of many four-legged friends. Prior to work they met with Director of Department of Agriculture, Host Nation veterinarians and the Humane Society to discuss goals. They coordinated and worked side-by-side with Island veterinarians and owners demonstrating veterinary preventive medicine, safe animal handling and animal husbandry to livestock owners. MAJ Powell and his small team saw nearly 2,100 animals and conducted over 5,700 vet services.

One of the more interesting events during our visit was a jam session with the Antigua and Barbuda Defense Forces and AF South Band during a military subject matter expert exchange event. Nearly 30 musicians playing together for the first time and brought calypso music to the ears of the onlookers. The music was colorful and delightful, told stories of island life and the wonderful culture we have been witness to for the past 12 days while working with the people of Antigua and Barbuda. We now have many lasting memories and new friends we can add to our address books.

Now our Humanitarian team is going to have a brief stop in Cartagena, Colombia to recharge our batteries, take on many historic sites and buy some emeralds. After that, Panama!

Nurses change lives, educate each other in Antigua

From LTJG Kirstan Pyle

USNS Comfort

Everything happens for a reason and we learn from EVERY situation we are placed in. I am so glad to be a part of this awe-inspiring partnership with other countries, communities, and services. I have seen so much from each country and Antigua is no different. Antigua has been an awesome experience!


I have had the opportunity to meet, train, and share knowledge with many Antiguan nurses and nursing students. After attending the Antigua & Barbuda Nurse Association Education Conference, many of us realized that nurses, regardless of culture, location and practice, experience many of the same difficulties and blessings.


At the Educational Conference, we discussed Evidence-Based Nursing. There is a lot of thought in nursing that things should continue to be done a certain way because "that's the way it's always been done." Every nurse has rammed head first into one of these situations, and it is sometimes hard to convince others that different isn't always bad. Evidence-Based Nursing looks at research and true facts and those are what determines how dressings are changed, what medicine is best, etc.

The blessings come from our patients and the lives we touch every day, even when we don't truly realize what an impact we have had on someone. We are a part of people's lives when they are the most vulnerable and when they lack control. It is our duty, goal, and honor to reach out and touch them in whatever way is possible, and now we have that opportunity in multiple countries. We might only see them for a day or two, but they will remember us. They will remember the US. They will remember that one moment in time where someone spent time away from their home to take spectacular care for them.

Antiguans are incredibly passionate, caring, and selfless people and a true joy to be around! Our patients in the Peri-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) have been so thankful for the great care that they are receiving from all the nurses and doctors. It is truly my pleasure to be a part of this life-changing mission!

LTJG Kirstan Pyle
USNS Comfort

Seabees Completed mission in Antigua

The Seabees arrived in Antigua with 21 Seabees and two main missions, which were to partner with Ministry of Public Works and the Rotary in completely renovating a 9,000 square foot building with new electrical, plumbing, windows, doors, restroom, shower, floor tile, and painting of both interior and exterior surfaces.

This mission was lead by SW1(SCW/EXW) Buchanan, who completed this mission on schedule. This will greatly enhance the quality of life for the patients at the hospital and produce an environment more conducive to providing medical care to them.

The second mission we had was a Subject Matter Expert Exchange(SMEE) with the Department of Public Works personnel. We provided four facilitators lead by BUC(SCW) Woolston for the SMEE which discussed topics of General Carpentry, Project planning, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, and General concrete/retaining wall construction.

We successfully exchanged with 11 Public Works construction men and received to outstanding feedback of how beneficial the training had been and how professional and knowledgeable the facilitators were during each two and a half hour session over a course of five days.

CWO2 John A. Ford
USNS Comfort Seabees

Happy Nurses Week

Wow, what a great week in Antigua and Barbuda. I’m CDR Mark Marino, the Director for Nursing onboard the ship and we had the phenomenal opportunity of celebrating Nurses Week and the Navy Nurse Corps’ 101st birthday with our colleagues of the Antigua and Barbuda Nurses Association. On Monday, we joined the Nurses Association in an opening ceremony at their building and then on Tuesday, we had 82 Antiguan Nurses aboard for a tour and a cake cutting in celebration of Nurses Week. Wednesday, 24 of the ship’s nurses attended the Antigua Nurses Association Education Conference where we had lectures on pain management, cultural sensitivity, customer relations, and two of our Air Force nurses presented on innovations in nursing and evidence-based practice. Wednesday night, in honor of the Navy Nurse Corp’s 101st birthday, we hosted a social at a local restaurant with 61 of our Antiguan colleagues joining us for the celebration. The food was great and the music and dancing were even better! On Thursday, we joined the Antiguan nurses for a health fair at two shopping centers and the Department of Education where together the nurses screened over 500 people for diabetes and hypertension. Today, we were asked to provide a three hour seminar on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and delirium in the elderly to both nurses and families dealing with these problems. And all week we have had nursing students from the local school of nursing aboard with their instructors where they have been doing clinical time with our nurses as their preceptors. It has been a great learning opportunity for everybody!

It was so impressive to be in Antigua during Nurses Week. By partnering with the Antiguan nurses, we discovered that they share the same issues that we do and are faced with the same challenges. Having an opportunity to discuss these challenges and provide each other opportunities on how to address them has proven to be a highlight of the week. Our team of military nurses from the Canada, the Netherlands, El Salvador, and the U.S. as well as our nurses from Project HOPE and Latter-Day Saint Charities will cherish these memories for a very long time! Happy Nurses Week!

United States Public Health Service

Another great partner of ours during CONTINUING PROMISE 09 is the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
USPHS has more than 6,200 full-time, well-trained, highly qualified public health professionals dedicated to delivering the Nation's public health promotion and disease prevention programs and advancing public health science.

Presently we have 11 of these fantastic professionals serving alongside us onboard COMFORT. I find them to be passionate about what they're doing and excited to be quite literally on the frontlines in the fight against disease and poor health conditions around the world.

Interesting fact: USPHS Commissioned Corps is one of America's seven uniformed services--their uniform looks just like the Navy one I wear!

As partners in Continuing Promise 2009, USPHS officers offer a wide range of expertise and a unique public health perspective that enhance the effectiveness of our mission during our four month deployment to seven countries. In Haiti, Dominican Republic and Antigua and Barbuda these professionals have worked closely with Host Nation officials providing valuable education and training. We’ve also learned a lot about the region that will better prepare our humanitarian team during a catastrophic event, and this leads to better disaster preparedness for the Americas. USPHS will rotate numerous teammates during this mission; right now I have the honor of working with these officers onboard COMFORT:

CAPT Arturo Bravo, a dentist from Washington State, serves as the USPHS officer-in-charge. CAPT Robert Lott, a physician from Florida, is assigned to the Advance Coordination Element (ACE) team for Panama as a vector control subject matter expert. CAPT Jan Manwaring, an environmental health officer from Alaska, is assigned to the Preventative Medicine team and works on environmental health assessments both on board the ship and at sites ashore. The team’s healthcare providers include CDR Christine Mattson, a family nurse practitioner from Arizona, LT Scott Williams, a dentist from Oklahoma, LT Chris Cordes, an optometrist from New Mexico, LT Temeri Wilder-Kofie, a veterinarian from Georgia, and LT Kara King, a pharmacist from Alaska. CDR Sheila Merriweather, an epidemiologist from Washington, DC, and LT Michael Mero, a dietician from California, serve as health educators on the Preventative Medicine Team. LCDR Todd Lennon, a social worker from Washington, DC, serves as the team’s executive assistant/public information officer and is assigned to Medical Operations.

OUR PARTNERS

By Capt. Bob Lineberry, mission commander

You have heard us praise the efforts of our Humanitarian team and many of the volunteers who are behind this amazing CONTINUING PROMISE team. Over the next several days I want to highlight a few great organizations we work with daily here on COMFORT. Project HOPE currently has 18 outstanding healthcare professionals and educators onboard supporting our efforts. Majority are Nurses, they seek to provide essential healthcare for people around the world and they live by their name, Health Opportunities for People Everywhere. Project HOPE has worked with the U.S. Navy for many years and have been partnered with SOUTHCOM from the very beginning of CONTINUING PROMISE. For this mission, Project HOPE has gone above and beyond to provide the team with the very best in healthcare and educational professionals. The team here is led by Mr. Tom Stanton and Dr. Ken Iserson, Medical Director, they will cycle over 60 individuals through the team during the four month deployment. During our mission in Dominican Republic, the President and CEO of Project HOPE, Dr. John Howe, a true humanitarian, honored us with an overnight visit. Dr. Howe and his team are performing amazing humanitarian efforts throughout the world, our team has certainly benefited from their experience and endless energy to provide healthcare and humanitarian assistance, by the way they are all volunteers here doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. The following humanitarians are currently onboard COMFORT and we couldn’t be as successful without them: Tom Stanton, Dr. Ken Iserson, Joan Cockerill, Darlene Lee, Sarah Cryer, Jan Auerbach, Megan Rohm, Sandra Larson, Margaret Holt, Tauna Ainslie, Elizabeth Malloy, Barbara Perdikakis, Linda Brant, Kelly Magee, Lynn Bemiller, Jane Bower, Michelle Okamoto, Susan Mortensen, I consider them all great team mates and good friends!

Sports Day with the Antiguan Defense Forces

By Jeremy Deiter, "Fun Boss"

Yesterday a big group of us from Comfort spent the day playing sports with the Antiguan Defense Force. It was great! We played a friendly soccer game as well as cricket. The soccer game, which took place first, was the definition of a "pick-up" game. I consider the game a huge success. The Comfort team played very well and more importantly we enjoyed ourselves. The informal structure of the game with the pristine ocean as a backdrop made for an amazing combination. After playing two 30 minute halves, the game was tied 2-2. We decided to play a classic overtime with two 5 minute halves. When the final whistle was blown, the score remained 2-2. I always like to look beyond the score and structure in these situations. I enjoyed playing a completely different style of soccer than any of us are used to. Our team consisted of everyone from Helo pilots to Project Hope volunteers. The game is a great way to build camaraderie between the ships different departments and personnel. Soccer presents the opportunity learn a lot about the people you are playing with and against. While the Caribbean style is something that I am not quite used to, it was fun to take part in something that was so laid back and relaxed. Soccer is a sport that is known around the world. Even though we may not be able to understand what they say on the field (the Antiguans speak English, but their island dialect can be very different from the English we speak at home!), we are able to understand the joy of competition and the companionship that sports create. After the soccer game, the Antiguan military offered to teach some of us how to play cricket. Cricket isn't really known in the US, but it's very popular here. The Antiguan Military taught us how to play the game before taking us on in a test. The friendly match created an atmosphere that promoted positive relations as well as fun. As I watched the test, I commented with my soccer teammates and opponents on our cricket performance. Needless to say, we all shared a couple good laughs. The Antiguans that participated in the soccer match were able to explain the game to the rest of us so we were able to follow what was going on. After all the athletic action finished, all four teams shared pizza and sodas. I have had the opportunity to play soccer in countries all over the world. Every time my opponents become my friends and I come away with amazing memories and this experience was no different. With the added cricket match, I felt that the two countries shared something that only sports can create.

H1N1 Influenza A Virus

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Disease Control are the lead U.S. federal agencies for the H1N1 flu outbreak. We are sensitive to the ongoing health situation and are monitoring it closely.
There has been no impact to Comfort's mission or schedule at this time.

Dominican Republic accomplishments

On the ground in Dominican Republic, our team was invited by U.S. Embassy Consular Section to participate in their leadership day to conduct a community relations project in Mirador Norte. We had the wonderful opportunity to work alongside Dominicans and the State Department team picking up litter, learning about reforestation and renovating playground equipment. We were able to meet new friends and reiterate our promise to be a valued partner in the Americas.

We had the opportunity to provide a superb humanitarian organization IDDI (Instituto Dominicano de Desarrollo Integral) in Dominican Republic . Five children’s bicycles were donated via Project Handclasp and more than 200 children entered an art contest, with the top five receiving the bikes. The children are part of a learning center program to continue to develop them and promote a positive learning environment.

Our Dominican Republic mission was extremely successful, we had the opportunity to work closely with many Dominican healthcare professionals, Dominican Navy and local engineers. The people of Dominican Republic are very appreciated of our hard work and continue to be outstanding partners to assist United States of America in our efforts to enhance security, stability and prosperity for all in the Americas.

"Ha sido un honor a servir al pueblo dominicano durante Misión Promesa Continua Dos mil Nueve. El equipo del USNS COMFORT y Los Estados Unidos de América, les agradecemos por ser tan fieles compañeros y amigos."

As always we must give great thanks to our partners who have provided health care professionals, educators and donations from Project HOPE, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, University California San Diego Pre-Dental Society, Rotary International, Project Handclasp and the United States Public Health Service. We could not have been as successful if it wasn’t for your unselfish efforts and continued humanitarian service around the world.


CAPT Bob Lineberry
Mission Commander
CONTINUING PROMISE 09

Continuing Promise Update

We are very pleased with our many successes in Haiti, our humanitarian team seen more than 7,300 patients and conducted more than 30,000 healthcare encounters with the Haitian people. We held numerous healthcare education seminars with local medical professionals and many Haitians to provide the latest in healthcare procedures and instructions.

Our Seabees led by CWO2 John Ford, BUC Diane Paddock and BUC John Woolston, Successfully completed their Haiti construction project by Seabees at the General Hospital. Major work included complete repair and renovation of the hospital pharmacy and dormitory. Is a new start for the pharmacy and dorm used by medical students.

Same goes for Dominican Republic, our combined humanitarian team has continued our medical, dental, veterinary, education, engineering and community relations projects. We have worked closely with Dominican Republic Minister of Health and military forces to bring medical professional onboard COMFORT and to work side-by-side at the four different medical sites. Our largest location that has been operating since 22 April is the site of the 2003 Pan American Games handball court. The team has been providing medical services to hundreds of Dominicans each day in Santo Domingo, while conducting surgeries onboard COMFORT. We’ll complete our Dominican Republic mission in a few days and prepare for our next stop in Antigua and Barbuda.

CAPT Bob Lineberry
Mission Commander
CONTINUING PROMISE 09

Greetings from the DR: by the Command Master Chief

Greetings from the Dominican Republic! I am the Command Master Chief for the Medical Treatment Facility onboard USNS COMFORT. This week, in addition to all of our work we are doing on shore, we have many Army and Navy Reservists rotating out after spending almost a month onboard. Our new shipmates are arriving and we are busy making sure they get settled in. All are eager to get to work!
Our days are long, the weather is hot and everybody looks tired by the end of the day. But no matter how tired they all are – they still have smiles on their faces! Everybody really enjoys what they are doing and are extremely happy to be a part of this mission. It is incredible to see the surgeries that are being done every day. I watched one of the cleft lip repairs on a 35 year old gentleman. After he woke up from surgery – he was so excited. The patients that are having surgery come onboard the day before; a lot of them are children. While they are waiting to get checked in, we have toys for them to play with and movies to watch. We find ourselves sitting on the deck playing with them as they race their new toy cars around. One little boy was evaluated when the COMFORT was here two years ago, but they could not do the surgery at that time. His father brought him back this year and we were able to perform his surgery.
One group of junior Hospital Corpsmen are assigned to work in the Galley as Food Service Attendants (FSA) for a good portion of the deployment. They will soon be rotating into the different medical departments, so they too can provide medical care. However, there are a couple of them that have come to me, asking to please let them stay an FSA for the remainder of the deployment! Now, that is some dedication to your job!! All of these Sailors have been working very hard every day, making sure the rest of the crew is fed, dishes are washed, mess decks are cleaned and trash is removed. And I have yet to see any of them without a smile on their face.

By: CASSION CARTER, Volunteer

What a great way to spend Good Friday! That was the day I joined the USNS Comfort team, which left Norfolk, VA on April 1st, a proud day and also my birthday!
As a person who is very interested in volunteering to bring help to people in need, I was asked to be part of the volunteer crew of Food for the Poor on the USNS Comfort ship team in order to bring health assistance to the very needy people of Haiti. I’m even more proud to participate because I’m a Haitian and I have witnessed a great deal of surgeries done by the Continuing Promise team. Food For the Poor has a presence in 17 countries to promote well-being, and a very reputable NGO which is why I’m so flabbergasted to be part of this team.
I have no word to explain how happy I was to be welcomed by such great hospitality and meeting very friendly people on board who have inspired me with such a nice vision for humanitarian activities. I was impressed by the ship and how organized it is. Many beneficiaries have been talking about this mission to be done every time why not being constant in Haiti to keep on doing such a good job. From the officers to the translators, everyone worked very hard to carry out this mission,
I thank God first and Food for the Poor second to give me this opportunity to be involved with the Continuing Promise mission team in order to work with such determination.
On April 13th, I was named as the Person of the Day and called up by the mission leadership Commodore Lineberry, Captain Ware and Captain Finger to receive a certificate and a coin of the USNS Comfort ship. Then, it is an honor for me to be recognized for my small contribution to this great and tremendous Mission. I can’t wait to be aboard after two years to keep on such a nice adventure.
I’m so grateful to Food for the Poor and The Continuing Promise mission for giving me such a big chance to serve my community, for which I feel so valuable.

A Continuing Promise to Bring Comfort, Hope, and Help

What do crew members aboard the USNS Comfort do after they have worked countless hours to touch thousands and thousands of needy people with medical care in Haiti?

They raise their hands and volunteer to help again.

As the Command Chaplain on board the USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) I have the distinct honor of organizing volunteers for something commonly referred to as a COMREL. One of the Navy's many acronym's, a COMREL is simply a community relations project. Such projects will be undertaken in all 7 nations visited during Continuing Promise '09.

The COMRELS in Haiti gave us our first glimpse of how these projects will make a difference.
COMREL #1 was conducted on 16 APR in partnership with Angel Missions Haiti and the Emmanuel Christian School/Haitian Christian Outreach. Under the tireless leadership of Vanessa Carpenter (aka "Mama V"), Angel Missions plans to open a new, badly needed, surgical center in a building on the grounds of the school. The project, in Port au Prince, involved painting 5 rooms (OR, recovery, etc.) as well as common area and stairwell walls. In the near future, the surgical center will become a hub of activity in a neighborhood underserved by medical care. In addition, Angel Missions plans to cultivate a list of US doctors who will give time--rotating monthly to perform surgery on needy Haitians. This COMREL provided a significant step towards this goal by helping to prepare the facility and we were able to deliver 10 boxes of medical consumables as well.

Ask any one of the 17 Navy, Army, or Air Force volunteers about the highlight of the day and they will tell you that while the painting was good----greeting and handing out candy to the 500 kids at the school was fantastic! All of us who participated will forever carry the sound of the children's laughter and the sight of their beautiful smiles in our hearts and minds. COMREL #1 confirmed what we all knew--we have fallen in love with the winsome spirit of the people (especially the children) of Haiti. We were also deeply inspired by the vision and compassion of people like Pastor Roro Eustache of the church school and Mama V of Angel Missions Haiti.

We left COMREL #1 knowing that the impact on the neighborhood will be very positive because of the meaningful interaction with we had with the kids, school teachers and administration who thanked us profusely. It was an honor to serve in this setting!

COMREL #2 took 29 Comfort crew members to the General Hospital in Port au Prince on 17 APR. The COMREL involved improving the overall condition of a small park just inside the main gate of the hospital. The first aspect of the project included trash collection/minor landscaping. This not only enhanced the appearance of the park but also increased safety as syringes and broken glass were carefully collected as we worked. This will be particularly important for the many children who use or pass through the park. The second part of the project involved painting the outside wall around the perimeter of the park (green and white) for the purpose of re-beautification.

All told 145 man hours were given in a spirit of joy. And again, the highlight involved getting to know local folks who gathered to watch and join with us in the work! Everyone that I spoke with (through the help of gifted translators) said that they were extremely thankful for out help--- and that the COMFORT had come to Haiti. They expressed a hope that COMFORT will return and stay longer. Through our presence and our words we indicated that ours is a CONTINUING promise-- and that we care.

CDR David G. Oravec, USNS Command Chaplain

Spanish translation:

Una Promesa Continua para traer Comodidad, Esperanza y Ayuda
¿Qué hace la tripulación a bordo del USNS Comfort después de haber trabajado innumerables horas para tocar miles y miles de personas necesitadas de atención médica en Haití?
Levantan las manos para ser voluntarios de ayudar de nuevo.
Siendo el Pastor a bordo del USNS Comfort, yo tengo el honor de organizar los voluntarios para las obras llamadas COMREL. COMREL, una de muchas siglas usada en la Armada, significa un proyecto de Relaciones con la Comunidad [“Community Relations” en Inglés]. Estos proyectos serán llevados a cabo en las 7 naciones anfitrionas que visitaremos durante Promesa Continua ’09.
Los COMRELS en Haití nos dieron nuestra primera visión del impacto que harán estos proyectos.
El COMREL # 1 se llevó a cabo el 16 de abril en colaboración con “Angel Missions” Haití y la Escuela Cristiana Emmanuel / Alcance Cristiano Haitiano. Bajo la dirección de Vanessa Carpenter (alias "Mama V"), “Angel Missions” planea abrir un nuevo centro quirúrgico en un edificio en los terrenos de la escuela, un servicio muy necesitado. El proyecto, ubicado en Port au Prince, consistió en pintar 5 salas (salas de cirugía, recuperación, etc.), así como salas comunales y las paredes de las escaleras. En un futuro no muy lejano, el centro quirúrgico se convertirá en un centro de actividad en un barrio con poca atención médica. Además, “Angel Missions” planea cultivar una lista de médicos Estadounidenses que rotaran mensualmente para proveer cirugías a los Haitianos más necesitados. Este COMREL dio un paso importante hacia este objetivo, ayudando a preparar el edificio y también pudimos donar 10 cajas de medicina consumible.
Pregúntele a cualquiera de los 17 voluntarios de la Armada, el Ejército, o la Fuerza Aérea sobre los acontecimientos del día y le dirán que pintar fue buena obra, pero saludar y repartir caramelos a los 500 niños en la escuela fue fantástico! Todos los que participaron en el proyecto siempre llevaran el sonido de la risa de los niños y el recuerdo de sus hermosas sonrisas en sus corazones y sus mentes. El COMREL # 1 confirmó lo que todos ya sabíamos - que nos hemos encariñado del espíritu de la gente (especialmente los niños) de Haití. También estamos profundamente inspirados por la visión y la compasión de la gente como el Pastor Roro Eustaquio de la escuela de la iglesia, y por Mama V de “Angel Missions” Haití.

Hemos dejado COMREL # 1, sabiendo que el impacto en el barrio va a ser muy positivo debido a la significativa interacción que tuvimos con los niños, los maestros de las escuelas y la administración, los cuales nos agradecieron profusamente. Fue un honor servir en este ambiente!

Navigation Tracking and Boat Ops Info

For anyone interested in plotting our track we departed Miami on schedule at 0700 on Monday the 6th of April, and proceeded in a northeasterly direction to the Northwest Providence Channel. We continued through Northeast Providence Channel then headed offshore and turned to the south southwest , passing southwest of San Salvador Island. From there we took Crooked Island Passage, and finally passed through the Windward Pass into the Caribbean. From there we followed a s southeasterly course through Cannal Du Marc to Baie de Port au Prince, arriving at our anchorage the morning of the 9th. Track information will be posted to the blog after arrival at each of our stops so you can keep track of both where we are and how we got there.

Yesterday I talked to one of our boat officers, Second Officer Day Jean Marien, as I returned to the ship on his boat. This was near the end of a long day of moving ship’s personnel and patients from Comfort to shore and back. His face was red from the sun and his uniform was stained with dried salt spray and sweat, but through a weary smile he told me about how much satisfaction he gets from interacting with the patients every day - bringing them out to the ship in need of care and taking them back to shore healthy. Jean’s comments are typical of what I am hearing from our boat crews. While driving boats in the hot sun day in and day out is exhausting work, our mariners get so much satisfaction out of their jobs that there is nothing they would rather be doing. The extra care they take when loading the patients - many of whom are not feeling well - onto the boat for the short journey to the ship is truly amazing and they take well deserved pride in making the beginning and end of the patient’s Comfort experience as stress free as possible.

Operating Comfort’s two 10 meter Patient Transfer/Logistics Boats is one the MSC crew’s most critical roles. Each boat has a crew of three civilian mariners, carries about 30 personnel and has a top speed of 10 knots. On a typical day the boats make their first run to shore at daybreak and operate continuously until after sunset, moving ship’s personnel, patients and supplies to and from the ship.

Moving over two hundred personnel and significant amounts of material from ship to shore and back on a daily basis requires close coordination between the mission command staff, medical planners and boat operators. The bulk of this work is done by our two cargo experts Captain Joseph Lindsey, USMC and Gunnery Sargeant Kenneth Roberts, USMC. They work on a daily basis with the medical planners, and other groups that will require transportation the next day to develop a detailed manifest and boat plan to ensure that everybody and everything is where it needs to be when it needs to be there. Without their “behind the scenes” efforts team Comfort could not accomplish its mission.

Hello from Food For the Poor!

Based in Coconut Creek, FL., Food for the Poor is the largest international relief and development organization in the country. It has been over 25 years since its foundation in Jamaica and has assisted Haiti since 1985. It is also the largest provider of aid to 17 countries in the Caribbean & Latin America, including three international offices in Jamaica, Haiti, and Guyana.

In Haiti, Food for the Poor does much more than simply feed millions of hungry poor people. It is also involved in water projects, construction of homes for families without adequate shelter, life saving medical care, training & micro-enterprise opportunities, education for children, orphanages, among other efforts. Poverty & need are the primary criteria to receive assistance, and the organization’s motto comes from Matthrew 25:40 <<>>

I had the privilege join the USNS Comfort Navy ship for the Continuing Promise 2009 mission on Saturday April 4th, and I’m still living this wonderful life-saving experience. I’m very impressed with the size of the ship, all of the beautiful people I have met and especially the vision of the mission to bring relief and hope to the needy (just like Food for the Poor).

This international humanitarian mission has emphasized respect, dignity, quality of service, the process of learning from each other, and positive thinking. During the first Sunday service, the USNS Comfort’s Chaplain reminded us that we have to keep on going whatever the circumstances “let’s roll on,” knowing that God will always be there to help those who believe in Him. My experience in this mission has reminded me of the Haitian flag motto “l’Union fait la Force,” meaning together and united we can build the power. All the various entities of the US Military have put in their efforts, together with different NGOs, towards the same goal: relief and hop to the needy. It’s a beautiful experience and I’m proud to have been chosen to represent Food for the Poor for two weeks in such a great international humanitarian mission. No doubt that Food for the Poor will always contribute to events like Continuing Promise that meet its vision to help the those in need.

We hope there will be another Continuing Promise mission just as beautiful as this one for the benefit of all those still in need.

Our best to all the participants and in the name of all the Haitian people we thank all the parties involved, and may God bless and assist them all always.

By: Huguette GUERRE.
Volunteer for Food for the Poor

Hello from Port au Prince, Haiti.

Commodore here again!


I’m very pleased to report our CONTINUING PROMISE mission here is going according to plan and the team has effectively demonstrated the ability to move medical and engineering service ashore and conduct humanitarian efforts. It may sound easy, however this is extremely complex and takes an enormous amount of teamwork to pull together a combined group of professionals from around the world to conduct effective humanitarian efforts. Good news is we’ve been able to do just that, it hasn’t been perfect, no one said it would be.

The numerous medical surgeries that have been done onboard COMFORT have been truly amazing; I only wish I was medically savvy enough to explain the technical details, but what I do know the procedures that we’ve done have been quality of life changing for many. They may have never had the opportunity if COMFORT and CONTINUING PROMISE were not in Haiti.

Our partnering this year has been a huge success, humanitarian organizations such as The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Food for the Poor, Operation Smile, Project HOPE, Rotarian International and USCD Pre-Dental Society have provided many health care and humanitarian professionals to integrate seamlessly into team. Their vast experience and never-ending energy has provided the team a completely new dynamic to the CONTINUING PROMISE mission. They know and understand the environment very well, as well as already have the trust of host nation leadership. We could not do this mission nearly as effective without them, nor would we want to. Four more days in Haiti, I’ll give you an update when we depart on how it went. Thanks for your continued support for this incredible mission.

Greetings from the Navigation Bridge!

I am Captain Thomas Finger, USNS Comfort’s Ship’s Master. As the Master or “Captain” I am responsible for the safe navigation and operation of the vessel and in overall command of the ship. My crew consists of 64, highly qualified; United States Coast Guard licensed and/or documented civil service mariners. We are all employees of the Department of the Navy’s Military Sealift Command. We work closely with the Commodore Bob Lineberry and his fine staff and the outstanding team of Medical Professionals led by Capt. J. J. Ware to make USNS Comfort go.

As I write this we are well along our track from Miami to Haiti. The Miami port visit last Saturday and Sunday was great! Though I have spent more than 30 years at sea this was the first time that I had taken a ship into Miami, never mind one the size of Comfort (think three football fields long, over one hundred feet wide and more than six stories high). Approaching from the north just before dawn we could see the city lights in the distance. As the sun came up all aboard were greeted by the sight of beautiful beaches stretching to the north with the city skyline dead ahead. We picked up the Biscayne Bay pilot, an individual with extensive local knowledge and outstanding shiphandling skills who comes aboard to guide visiting ships in and out of port, shortly after 8:00 AM. We then traveled the full length of the main ship channel, passing three passenger ships that were even larger than Comfort. Assisted by four tug boats the ship then turned 180 degrees and headed back up the channel tying up to berth 56W at about 10 O’clock. While this was a “liberty” port the MSC crew had a lot of work to do before they could hit the beach. Engineering watchstanders continued to provide hotel services for the more than 900 people living aboard, while deck and engine department personnel completed minor repairs and conducted required maintenance. We also loaded some last minute cargo, worked with the ship’s agent to ensure that all required services were received and stood safety and security watches.

When dawn broke on Monday morning it was time to leave the great city of Miami. By noon we had reached the Bahamas and were well on our way to Haiti. During the transit we are continuing to conduct training and make final preparations for our arrival in Port au Prince. As the trip continues I will try to give provide an idea of what it takes to keep a ship as large and complex as Comfort operating smoothly so the skilled medical professionals aboard can safely and effectively do their jobs. I will also be happy to answer questions about the ship that anyone might have.