STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERSIAN GULF

File: 110596_sep96_decls2_0007.txt
Page: 0007
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











              sides that sat high in the water -,seemingly an obvious

              target. When small boats approached, the crew were

              intensely observant. Plans were made for a defense of the

              ship. People wished for stinger missiles or a special

              forces team to provide security. The crew sought to

              decrease their anxiety and feelings of vulnerability by

              creating their plans for'defense.
                   Th@' @reat'of missile attack was a focal point for fear

              and anxiety. There was a general perception that the ship

              was extremely vulnerable to attack from exocet or silkworm

              missiles. People joked about sleeping inboard of the "big

              red targets," i.e., the huge red crosses on the sides of the

              ship. Reassurance from the commanding officer that the ship

              was protected by unseen forces did little to quell the

              anxiety. People believed that if attacked, the ship would

              sink like a stone.

                   'In response to this fear, the leadership called

              together the'crow'for'a briefing. The leaders informed the

              crew that the-ship had a double hull and that most missiles

              would pierce only one layer of the ship's skin. -In

              addition, the ship was compartmentalized to limit damage to

              one fifth of the ship. information spread that since the

              Persian Gulf was only 60 feet deep, and the ship was over

              iOO feet tall, if it sank it would simply settle onto the

              floor of the Gulf and become a stationary hospital.' 'This




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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