NYHC wants to take the opportunity to remember the 50 veterans that reportedly died in the Long Island nursing home. To date, there are more than 1000 veterans in VA health system sites that have been lost due to Covid-19 infections. Along with the veterans who are not getting the proper ceremonial honors at their burials due to Covid-19. However, hundreds of other veterans were lost in the state-run homes.  We ask, how many of these veterans would still be alive today if they were fast-tracked to USNS Comfort.  And for those who would have succumbed to the infection, how many would have been happier spending their final hours on the military hospital ship?  Of course, these are tough questions.

On this Memorial Day Observance, NYHC is honored to have Congressman and veteran Max Rose offer words of thanks to the crew of USNS Comfort.  A purple heart recipient, Max Rose served as a platoon leader in Afghanistan and was wounded there in 2013.  In addition to his representation of the 11th Congressional District from Brooklyn and Staten Island, he currently is attached to the New York Army National Guard for active duty.

NYHC is proud to have found men and women of distinction to help tell our Covid-19 New York story.  The time span of the documentary is from March 7th (the first covid deaths in NYC) to April 30th (when Comfort leaves NYC).   The key focal characters are Rachel Hartley, who answered the call for ICU nurses, sailing her temporary residence into New York Harbor and USNS Comfort’s Chaplain, Lt. Johnny Bravo.  There is a strong spirituality between the two, told from their respective ships.  The working New York Harbor personnel is represented by the Sandy Hook Pilot, Captain Tim Ferrie, who navigated Comfort into its NYC pier.  USNS Comfort’s Commander Amersbach offers his precise detail of the Hospital ship operations.

New York Harbor is in lock down for all passenger ship traffic.  The cruise ship industry ties NY waters to the oceans of the world.  We also touch on Erika Butters’ plight stuck on a Cruise Ship stranded in the Atlantic Ocean.   As Covid-19 tears apart careers and industries, Erika’s 56 day saga offers a musical therapy as she records a consistent daily post on Facebook from her ship.  Erika’s music offers uplifting melodies under our visual footage.  NYHC has taken the best of our interviews over the past two months to piece together this unique story.

Governor Cuomo and President Trump provide the Covid-19 reality as well as the backstory as to why Comfort was in NYC for only 30 days.  The hospital ship only treated 182 Covid patients over a mere 14 day period.  Despite the political tension that permeates the atmosphere, Comfort does exhibit its  marvelous medical deployment and staff acumen.  Not a single Covid-19 patient treated on-board was lost.

We conclude with shout outs from New Yorkers including one from  Congressman Max Rose.  With Comfort’s return to the Norfolk Naval Station, one missing element remains… a Mission Name.  We invite everybody who was touched both physically and spiritually to offer a name for the Navy Command to consider.  NYHC has chosen ‘Operation Gentle Shadow’ as its reach in dark times has brought calm and compassion to the waters of New York Harbor.

After USNS Comfort sailed out of New York Harbor, the torch had been passed to a visiting nurse from Lynchburg, Virginia and the hundreds of other healthcare workers like Rachel Hartley.  Of course, we cannot forget about the thousands of healthcare workers who started this battle when Covid-19 first entered the NYC hospital system back in February.  Departure day for the Comfort marked a significant Turning Point for New York.  The number of Covid-19 cases was slowly, but steadily on the decline.

NYHC wishes to take this opportunity to personally thank the men and women of the USNS Comfort for their service to the nation   The ship exemplified professionalism.  What’s more, the hospital ship also served as a ambassador.  It was indeed a Gentle Shadow that spread compassion from the waterfront to all the New York and New Jersey front line workers.   As you sailed out of the harbor, you took your excellence with you to serve on another mission.  For New York, Operation Gentile Shadow will live on as a shining light that helped bring us out of the unknown darkness.  We wish you fair winds and following seas!

For more in depth articles and interviews found in New York Harbor Channel, please click below

Commander Amersbach

Captain Tim Ferrie

Erika Monet Butters

Nurse Rachel Hartley

Chaplain Johnny Bravo

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USNS Comfort sails under the Navy’s Military Sealift Command.  The joint assembly of civilian and Navy doctors, nurses and medical technicians began receiving a few non-infected patients within days of arrival.  But with infections rising in April, the greater demand for Covid-19 ICU admissions around the metropolitan New York area suddenly transitioned Comfort from a trauma-only medical facility to a full fledged Covid-19 treatment center.  The 180 degree turn was smoothly and efficiently handled.

As the media covered politicians and CDC officials crying.  “Test, test, test!”, Chaplain Bravo was quick to attest the Navy world is all about “Train, train, train!”  Comfort swung into action.  Ventilators were uncrated, Personal Protective Equipment was unwrapped and skids of full-face respirator gear were lowered on deck by the Nightdippers helicopter squadron.  All the while, Comfort hospital staff carried out a mission that required flexibility and precision.

Comfort has a cadre of nurses that are specifically trained in accepting and admitting new patients onto the ship, a stressful and difficult task wielding the heavy ventilation equipment that accompanies the patient when they are transferred from the ambulance. Then, it is a long procession down the long corridors into the ICU.

A MIRACLE OR JUST ANOTHER DAY OF NAVY PREPAREDNESS?

USNS Comfort received official U.S. notification that it will no longer be required as a backup hospital facility here in New York Harbor.  Comfort treated 182 Covid-19 patients in total.  Twenty nine patients were released over the past two weeks.  The remaining patients were transferred back to local hospitals in New York and New Jersey.  The last recovering patient was transferred yesterday.  There were no Covid-19 deaths aboard Comfort.

Today, the ships’ medical rooms are silent, the blood laboratories have no new samples to test, and the Chaplains & doctors have no rounds to attend to.  Chaplain Bravo did have the opportunity to answer a few questions while the rest of the ship continued readiness for its departure later this week.

A LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY

Today’s interview with Chaplain Bravo revealed his personal feelings about his service.  We learned of his constant use of PPE and following all CDC guidelines.  He encouraged patients and crew members to use the Zoom mobile app for Easter and Passover celebrations.  In the absence of a brick and mortar church, temple or mosque, he has no qualms practicing individual religious faith through any medium available.  Ultimately, Chaplain Bravo was happiest accompanying his recovered patients off the ship and walking them onto the Pier toward solid ground.

As he spoke from the ship, New York Governor Cuomo and NYC Mayor DeBlasio both announced plans to slowly re-open facilities and businesses as Covid-19 hospitalizations and mortality rates decrease.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

As Comfort leaves New York Harbor, it will pass Governor’s Island.  On the port side, there will be a lone sailboat in an empty Brooklyn Marina.  The sailboat is called The Turning Point.  On a path similar to Comfort’s just three weeks earlier, it journeyed up the Easter Seaboard from Virginia.  But this time, the ship was occupied only by a husband and wife team.  It was Easter weekend.  Rachel Hartley, an ICU nurse who is working a 60 day stint at NYU Langone Hospital in Sunset Park Brooklyn will now take over where Comfort left off.  Along with a galley full of hospital workers, this crew will be living on the sailboat to fulfill their mission to aid New York’s Covid-19 patients.  As Comfort passes, the Chaplain will include Rachel and her crew in Comfort’s prayers.

A native of the Bronx, Johnny Bravo is a die-hard Yankee fan.  Uncertainty is hitting home in the heart of New York baseball.  He mulls over the reality that the season may not be up to speed until much later this summer.  It must be tough being a Yankees fan on this ship having a thousand other crew mates from the rest of the country who are baseball fans of other teams.

CHAPLAIN BRAVO’S BLESSING OF NEW YORK HARBOR

Johnny Bravo is a Comforter Aboard The Comfort.  Danielle Petito joined him in prayer for his blessing of New York Harbor.  He leaves behind a bitter sweet memory, but offers a positive message to all of us.

The hospital ship may leave as early as this Thursday, April 30th. A Sandy Hook Pilot will make the controls on the bridge as the McAllister tugboats help maneuver the ship out into open waters just beyond the Verrazzano Narrows.  The New York State flag will be lowered, folded and re-crated. Destination Norfolk Naval Station before it is dispatched to another region of the world where it is needed once again.

CAN YOU SUGGEST THE MISSION NAME FOR USNS COMFORT’S DEPLOYMENT TO NYC?

When Danielle interviewed Commander Amersbach and asked him if Comfort’s mission to NYC had a name?  Chaplain Bravo said he knows what name he would use but deferred divulgement.  “I believe it is either up to the Captain or up to the public to give it a name.” he said.  From what we can gather, it is our understanding the Captain is also open to suggestions.  If you would like, we invite all of our readers to offer a name of your own.  NYHC will pass it along and see how far it gets.

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The Nightdippers have an interesting history of missions since the squadron was first established in 1956 when the craft would lower its submersible sonar-equipment for Anti-Surface Warfare campaign in nighttime activities.  Hence, the creation of its name. Over the years, the majority of the Nightdipper missions have been Search and Rescue. Most memorable was its service in the 2005 Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans when more than 40 people airlifted to safety.  Delivering thousands of pounds of food, water and medical supplies has been a hallmark of local U.S. civilian authority support.

The Nightdippers has been deployed to dozens of aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf, the Mediterranean Sea and the Caribbean performing hundreds of sorties and hundreds of hours.  The squadron received the 2013 Battle Efficiency Award as a result of their effectiveness in Helicopter Sea Combat out of Norfolk Naval Station.

So the mission to deliver hospital supplies from Norfolk to USNS Comfort in New York Harbor was assigned to carry the Navy’s stock of specialty full-face mask respirators with an air-filtration system.

“The safety of patients and crew about Comfort is our highest priority,” said Capt. Joseph O’Brien, mission commander, Task Force New York City. “We use full personal protection equipment precautions in accordance with CDC recommendations.  We are receiving these items now due to the shift in patient acceptance and to ensure we maintain safety of all aboard Comfort.”

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Due to the size and depth of the USNS Comfort, US Navy Meteorologists and Oceanographers prepared the weather forecast and the underwater topographic maps.  Logistics were already in motion well before the ship’s departure from Norfolk Naval Operations Base.

Back in New York Harbor, Donjon Marine, a local dredging company, was permitted to deepen the harbor for safe transit and docking at Pier 90 Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

Monday morning, the Sandy Hook Launch was waiting.  Captain Tim Ferrie was on board. He cautiously ascended ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ at the Ambrose Station meeting point in the New York Bight.

The Sandy Hook pilot delivers the Flag of New York State that was unfurled above the Comfort as it entered New York Harbor.

At the helm of USNS Comfort, alongside Commander Patrick Amersbach and Captain Andrew Lindey, Tim Ferrie wore his mask in the face of COVID-19 precaution.

A salute from the New York Harbor flotilla accompanied the hospital ship up the Hudson River into Berth 4 of the Marine Terminal.

The configuration of the Navy Hospital ship was not unfamiliar to Captain Ferrie. Both USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy are converted super-tankers. Similar specifications to many other tankers that a routinely enter New York Harbor carrying oil. This was another delivery in the hundreds of deliveries the Sandy Hook pilots make every day and every night.

Captain Ferrie was presented with the traditional Navy Challenge Coin by Commander Amersbach.  New York Harbor Channel applauds all the members of the Sandy Hook Pilot Association.

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The Comfort is fully equipped with over 1,100 personnel on board, as well as an ample amount of medical equipment and supplies. Commanding Officer Amersbach states “We are working with the New York State and local health departments, the department of health & human services and FEMA who’s setting up communications to help us make sure that we have the appropriate patient population to bring aboard the ship. There won’t be any walk ups, we are not going to be an emergency department for EMS to drop patients off to us, it will be like a hospital to hospital transfer.”  

The USNS Comfort will provide care for patients who do not show symptoms of Covid-19. If it is determined a patient on the ship has Covid-19 they will be transported to a local hospital. This is the first time the Comfort will ever deploy on a mission for an infectious disease outbreak and C.O. Amersbach assures us they are following DOD and CDC guidelines to ensure the safety of their crew and civilians.  When asked how long the Comfort will stay in NY, Amersbach said “we’re going to be there as long as we are needed.” Those sure are some reassuring words, in a much needed time!

Itinerary for the USNS Comfort

You can track the Comfort live on New York Harbors Live GPS Tracking Map.

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The USNS Comfort will be making its way to New York Harbor in order to help control the influx of crowded hospitals due to Covid-19. On Wednesday, President Trump ordered the Comfort, and its sister ship USNS Mercy to help states affected by overpopulated hospitals. Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, stated the Comfort would allow local NYC hospitals to transfer trauma patients to the ship, allowing the local hospitals to free up much needed quarantine ICU space.

The Comfort’s Background History

The last time the Comfort was here in NY was 3 days after the September 11th, 2001 terror attacks. The mission was called ‘Noble Eagle.’ It helped aid the injured. NYC will greatly benefit the Comforts arrival. It offers 1,000 beds, 12 fully equipped operating rooms, a helicopter landing pad and up to 1,200 medical staff. The USNS Comfort is just under 3 football fields long and 10 stories high, making it the worlds largest hospital ship.

USNS Comfort will bring civilian doctors and hospital technicians to New York.  Similarities to other USNS vessels where the U.S. Navy is responsible for the operation of the ship, and civilian experts perform on-board missions.

USNS Comfort is one of the Military Sealift Command ships of the U.S. Navy.  Aside from the hospital ships, other specialty vessels such as those operating under the Navoceano division assign civilian scientists to map and gather data of ocean floor topography.  During Fleet Week 2018, NYHC interviewed the USNS Maury and learned about Navoceano’s unique missions.  In 2010, USNS Comfort was deployed to Porto Prince, Haiti after its devastating earthquake.  But, before Comfort was able to enter the port, Navoceano scientists searched for underwater debris in the harbor channel, allowing safe entry.

With its massive size, red defining crosses and solid white exterior, the ship is soon set to station in NY.  It will definitely be an amazing site to see. “The Comfort is currently in for maintenance in Norfolk, so they are going to expedite the maintenance if they can and prepare it.” Jonathan Hoffman, assistant defense secretary for public affairs, told CNBC. Presently the ship is at the Naval Operation Base in Norfolk, VA.

Live GPS Tracking USNS Comfort

You can track the USNS Comfort on New York Harbors Live GPS Tracking Map. Simply type in the vessels name and it will tell give you a live view of where it is.  Look for the uncharacteristic large, long, white object.  In addition, the NYHC countdown clock will advise on when the ship will be passing under the Verrazzano Bridge.

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