USNS COMFORT PHYSICAL THERAPY PATIENT VISITS 8 APR 91

File: 123096_sep96_decls11_0003.txt
Page: 0003
Total Pages: 3

Subject: USNS COMFORT  PHYSICAL THERAPY PATIENT VISITS  8 APR 91         

Unit: VAR. BUMED  

Parent Organization: BUMED       

Box  ID: BX303818

Folder Title: usns comfort tah 20 deployment statistics 14 mar 91                                             

Document Number:          7

Folder Seq  #:         10





                                        UNCLASSIFIED


                In August 1990, as part of the deployment for operation Desert shield,
      one Physical Therapist from NNMC (LT. Weinstein) and five Physical Therapy Tech-
      nicians from NNMC (MM2 Miller, HM2 Thomas, HM2 Brooks, HM2 Cass and HM3 Santana)
      were assigned to the P.T. Department aboard USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20). one Physical
      Therapy Technician from Medical Clinic- Annapolis (IIM2 Hudson), was also assigned
      to the COMFORT as part of the cadre crew. The group departed Baltimore/Bethesda in
      high spirits, anxious to support our troops already on station in the Persian Gulf.
                In September '90, LT. Weinstein became the first'casualty' of the crew
      when she@ractured her ankle. She was treated by the orthopaedics Department aboard
      COMFORT, and Med-Evacld back to the U.S. in her absence, HM2 Miller the LPO of the
      P.T. Department functioned as the 'Department Head' and turned in an exemplary per-
      formance, for which he has been nominated for a Navy Achievement Medal.
                On 23 Oct.190 LCDR Quillen-from NNMC arrived onboard COMFORT to assume
      responsibility as P.T. Department Head. It was at this time that two burn patients
      Marine Corps cooks stationed in the Saudi Desert were treated onboard COMFORT by
      Physical Therapy. Both Marines had sustained f and 2'burns to their faces, necks and
      arms when their gas stoves exploded. They recovered well from their injuries and were
      Med-Evacld to Germany for further treatment. And, as it would turn out, these were
      the only true burn patients, other than severe sunburns, to be treated by the P.T.
      Dep't. during Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm.
                The New Year saw the addition of Navy Reservists to the staffing of the
      COMFORT in general, and the P.T. Dep't in particular: LT.j.g. O'Boyle, 1IM2 Mata,
pleted
      "C" School in Corpus Christ!, Texas and was originally designated to go to Naval
      Hospital San Diego, was assigned to the P.T. Dep't of COMFORT.
                So, as Operation Desert Storri unfolded, the Physical Therapy staff con-
      sisted of two Physical Therapists, and ten Physical Therapy Technicians. As fortune
      would have it, their high level of skill and long hours of drill were not fully
      utilized, as the level of combat casualties were handled adequately by the 'First
      Eschelon' Medical Facilities in the Desert. what is not tangible, however, is the
      einotional/psychological impact played by COMFORT for thek)ilots and crews of the
      Allied Forces. When these aviators viewed the "Bia white Hospital Ship" they felt
      an aura of reassurance. Some pilots and Naval Flight officers would subsequently
      tell members of COMFORT of how the@ iivuldratapult off the flight deck of their
      carriers (Ranger and Midway) and veer off course slightly to catch a glimpse of
      COMFORT as they streaked toward tbier bombing missions inside Iraq and Kuwait.
      They felt a sense of confidence knowing that we were there, and ready for them,
      if need-be; and we felt a sense of pride.





















                                          UNCLASSIFIED

Document 3 f:/Week-39/BX303818/usns comfort tah 20 deployment statistics 14 mar 91/usns comfort physical therapy patient visits 8:12179609562210
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 deployment statistics 14 mar 91
Folder Seq # = 10
Subject = USNS COMFORT PHYSICAL THERAPY PATIENT VISITS 8
Document Seq # = 7
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 = 17-DEC-1996