Humanitarian Mission Ends Friday With Navy Ship's Return

The hospital ship USNS Mercy is scheduled to return to its home port Friday following a nearly five-month-long humanitarian mission, the Navy has announced.

The Mercy took part in the seventh annual Pacific Partnership, in which about 1,200 service members and civilians provided medical service to citizens of Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia.

The Navy said personnel treated more than 49,000 people at temporary on-shore medical clinics, conducted at least 900 surgeries aboard ship and took care of more than 7,000 livestock or domestic animals.

Participants also built or renovated 13 buildings, planned for future disaster responses and took part in about 100 community service projects and cultural exchanges.

“It's through increased understanding and trust that we will all work better and more efficiently together – not if, but when – a natural disaster strikes,” said Capt. Jim Morgan, the mission commander.

The Mercy left San Diego May 3, carrying personnel from the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, U.S. State and Justice departments, Agency for International Development and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

Other participating organizations included the UC San Diego Pre-Dental Society, a student-run free dental clinic; Project Hope, which launched the first civilian hospital ship; LDS Charities; and the University of Hawaii.

– City News Service