STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERSIAN GULF

File: 110596_sep96_decls2_0005.txt
Page: 0005
Total Pages: 48

Subject: STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERSIAN GULF        

Unit: VAR. BUMED  

Parent Organization: BUMED       

Box ID: BX303818

Folder Title: USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992                                                  

Document Number:          4

Folder SEQ  #:         13










                  This chapter describes stres&,and coping aboard the

             hospital ship USNS Comfort during the Persian Gulf War. We

             describe one instance where members of the mental health

             team deployed to a nearby ship to provide on-site

             consultation and intervention after a disaster at sea.






                                       Stressors



                  USNS Comfort crew members had little or no time to

             adjust to the idea of shipboard life and isolation from

             families and friends. Ninety percent of the crew had never

             deployed,.and 'most never expected to go to sea. Despite
             being told repeatedly that the ship would be sailing, many

             believed that it would not actually occur. Some said, "No

             way, they won't be able to got the engines running.,,

             Precious last days with friends and families were lost as
             crew members rushed about purchasing sea bags, toiletries,

             laundry bags, uniforms, short wave radios, and stationary.

             For many, important family business remained undone. Many

             crew members had never been separated from their wives and

             children.

                  The extreme time pressure and need for security

             resulted in people feeling out of control, disoriented, and





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Document 48 f:/Week-39/BX303818/USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992/stress and coping with trauma of war in the pers:1104960910243
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-39
Box ID = BX303818
Unit = VAR. BUMED
Parent Organization = BUMED
Folder Title = USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992
Folder Seq # = 13
Subject = STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERS
Document Seq # = 4
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 04-NOV-1996