Key points
- Hospital corpsmen were assigned to the national capital region after the 9/11 attacks to provide medical assistance to rescue workers searching for survivors.
- The USNS Comfort, one of the Navy’s hospital ships, treated over 650 casualties during the Iraq War.
- The Mercy and Comfort are two of the Navy’s most popular hospital ships, but many other sea vehicles worldwide are equipped with advanced medical tools and capabilities.
- Hospital corpsmen are an essential part of the Navy’s healthcare system, providing medical care and support to Navy personnel and their families.
- During times of crisis, hospital corpsmen are deployed to provide critical medical assistance.
- The “Global War on Terror” was rebranded as “Overseas Contingency Operations” in 2009, but this did not change the duty of hospital corpsmen.
- Hospital corpsmen continue to serve and support ongoing operations during times of war or national emergency.
- Hospital ships and other sea vehicles are equipped with advanced medical capabilities, including functional operating rooms, ICU beds, surgical wards, fully stocked pharmacies, and dental clinics.
- Hospital corpsmen play a critical role in treating casualties and providing medical support to those in need during times of crisis.
- The Navy’s hospital ships and sea vehicles are an important component of the military’s readiness to respond to national emergencies and provide medical assistance to those in need.
Hospital corpsmen deployed to National Capital Region after 9/11
When the towers fell on 9/11, hospital corpsmen were assigned to the national capital region. They boarded the USNS Comfort and arrived on the 14th of September. They were there to provide the assistance needed to help thousands of rescue workers in search of survivors.
USNS Comfort provides medical assistance during the Iraq war
Even during the fighting in Iraq, it was the USNS Comfort that was there to help treat over 650 casualties.
Popular hospital ships: Mercy and Comfort
During this time the two most popular Hospital ships were the Mercy and Comfort. However, there were several other operations going on with other fleets all over the world as well.
Medical capabilities on other fleets worldwide
Almost every major sea vehicle was equipped with medical tools and even functional operating rooms, ICU beds, surgical Wards, fully stocked pharmacies, and even dental clinics.
“Global War on Terror” rebranded as “Overseas Contingency Operations”
In August 2009, the “Global War on Terror” in Afghanistan and Iraq was changed to “Overseas Contingency Operations.”
Hospital corpsmen continue to serve in ongoing operations
This didn’t change the duty of the hospital corpsman. They continued to serve and support ongoing operations.
Conclusion
Hospital corpsmen are an essential part of the United States Navy’s healthcare system, providing medical care and support to Navy personnel and their families, as well as serving in times of war or national emergency. In times of crisis, such as the 9/11 attacks and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, hospital corpsmen have been deployed to provide critical medical assistance to those in need.
