A Tour of the Comfort in Guatemala

PUERTO BARRIOS, GUATEMALA

04.23.2015

Courtesy Story

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Maddelin Angebrand
CP-15 Public Affairs

PUERTO BARRIOS, Guatemala - Following a donation of medical supplies to six hospitals in Guatemala on April 21, representatives from the Latter-day Saint Charities (LDSC) came aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) for a tour April 23.

The Comfort is anchored off the coast of Guatemala for a nine-day mission stop in support of Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15). Continuing Promise is a collaborative effort between the United States, partner nations and non-governmental and support organizations to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian and civic assistance, as well as veterinary, medical, dental and civil engineering support to send a strong message of compassion, support and commitment to Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

The joint military team along with various embarked non-governmental organization volunteers – including LDSC are working together to perform surgeries in the ship’s operating rooms and provide free medical treatment to Guatemalan residents at two clinics set up in Puerto Barrios.

In addition, a veterinary team will be working with local farmers, and the Navy Seabees assigned to Navy Mobile Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202 will be conducting engineering projects at two separate schools also in Puerto Barrios. This mission reflects the continued commitment of the United States to Latin America and the Caribbean, and will further develop channels of communication and support in the event of natural disasters. Upon leaving Guatemala, the USNS Comfort will continue to visit nine other countries in Central American and the Caribbean area.

The visitors to the Comfort were Elder Alvin Burningham, his wife Sister Arlene Burningham, Elder James Done and his wife Sister Kathlene Done, both from the Central America Area Welfare Office for LDSC. Also in attendance was a former veteran of Continuing Promise 2011, Ken Kartchner, a water engineer, now working in Guatemala on water projects. Participating in the tour was Dr. Tom Crawford, team lead for LDSC aboard the Comfort. The visitors brought with them a large supply of toothbrushes, toothpaste and crayons and donated them to patients and children who were receiving care aboard Comfort.

The visitors were able to see the bridge, flight deck and various areas of Comfort’s medical facility. They were presented with an enlightening description of the services the hospital can provide and how it is functioning and developing working relationships with the health care planners and providers in the nations visited. For example, a group of physicians and nurses from Colombia came aboard the Comfort in Guatemala and will be serving alongside the Comfort’s medical personnel until we reach their home country.

LDSC volunteers currently embarked aboard Comfort will continue to work alongside the joint military team and other NGOs to support the CP-15 mission in Central America,South America and the Caribbean.

• Date Taken: 04.23.2015
• Date Posted: 04.27.2015 13:18
• Story ID: 161379
• Location: PUERTO BARRIOS, GT