When Hope Sails into Port and Plans to Stay

The hospital ship USNS Comfort arrives in San Juan Tuesday.

U.S. Air Force/Capt. Christopher Merian


The USNS Comfort has now docked in Puerto Rico and the Rockhouse has no political observations on the matter since the only purpose is to observe the fact it has docked and isn't that a wonderful thing.  When so many people in Puerto Rico need medical help after the Hurricane and USNS Comfort can help a tremendous number at once, there's nothing but goodness coming from this.

There's no value to any political aspect but it doesn't matter since this event matters the most to people who carry so much depression they have come to believe there is no hope of anything and there are no good people left anywhere.  I specifically insist that's not true and situations as with USNS Comfort are the proof of it.  There are no politicians on this vessel but there is a large cadre of staff who are technically capable and emotional dedicated to the purpose of going anywhere to help people.


Doctors without Borders is a different example of people with such motivation and we don't need a comparison between them, only the awareness of the risks they will take to bring the medical care we need and often in incredibly dangerous locations at great risk to themselves.


We don't need it as a general theme since many of you know already there's a high level of toxicity in the news and we're not particularly interested in how and why it got so toxic.  However, we're highly interested in the fact too much immersion in that toxic stew can toxify you as well to the point of making it impossible to see the goodness which is actually all around if you look for it.

Zen Yogi:  kill your television?

Well, that's a bit extreme and the bloody things cost a packet of money so that's likely to be a Regrettable only moments after you do it.  Turning off the device will serve just as well and that's where it comes to a favorite mantra from the Rockhouse, focus, focus, focus.

This article is focused on one person specifically and you know who you are but I strongly suspect there are multiple others with the same feelings of hopelessness.  The Regulars know there's not much which can get my life any more fucked-up but looking to situations as with the USNS Comfort is the thing I do with it ... and it works.


Taking things deeper about USNS Comfort.

Check out her capacity since she's a floating hospital.

Intensive care wards: 80 beds
Recovery wards: 20 beds
Intermediate care wards: 280 beds
Light care wards: 120 beds
Limited care wards: 500 beds
Total Patient Capacity: 1000 beds
Operating Rooms: 12


USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) is the third United States Navy ship to bear the name Comfort, and the second Mercy-class hospital ship to join the U.S. Navy's fleet. The USNS prefix identifies the Comfort as a non-commissioned ship owned by the U.S. Navy and operationally crewed by civilians from the Military Sealift Command (MSC). A uniformed naval hospital staff and naval support staff is embarked when Comfort is deployed, said staffs consisting primarily of naval officers from the Navy's Medical Corps, Dental Corps, Medical Service Corps, Nurse Corps and Chaplain Corps, and naval enlisted personnel from the Hospital Corpsman rating and various administrative and technical support ratings (e.g., Yeoman, Personnel Specialist, Information Systems Technician, Religious Program Specialist, etc.).

In keeping with her status as a non-combatant vessel, naval personnel from the "combat" specialties are not assigned as regular crew or staff. Underway embarks by Navy Unrestricted Line officers (e.g., warfare qualified combat specialties), enlisted Naval Aviation, Surface Warfare, Submarine Warfare, Special Operations or Special Warfare/SEAL personnel, or any Marine Corps officers or enlisted personnel, are typically limited to official visits, helicopter or tilt-rotor flight operations or as patients.

In accordance with the Geneva Conventions, USNS Comfort and her crew do not carry any offensive weapons. Firing upon Comfort would be considered a war crime as the ship only carries weapons for self-defense.

WIKI:  USNS Comfort (T-AH-20)