Teamwork apparent aboard USNS Comfort
Sailors from Naval Hospital Charleston, S.C.; the Secretary of the Navy's executive dining facility; Naval War College at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.; and Naval Weapons Station Earle, N.J., have joined the crew from the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., to create a staff that has worked together like a team from the beginning of this mission.
Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort is working to provide food and laundry services and short-term lodging space for the disaster relief workers while ported at Pier 92 in New York City. The galley's mission is to staff a 24-hour dining facility for USNS Comfort staff and disaster relief workers from Ground Zero, the World Trade Center site.
"Everyone is coming together as a team and putting out a good product," said Navy Mess Management Specialist 1st Class Albert Sherman. "I was surprised that we could all join together so quickly. It helped us to work towards organizing and getting our mission accomplished from day one.
"Most of our crew is from NNMC, but word got out that we needed more help, and we got volunteers from all over. It's been great," said Sherman.
Seventy workers divided into a day crew and a night crew staff the galley. Both crews work 12-hour shifts.
The mess crews' jobs are made easier knowing that they are appreciated, according to Navy Mess Management Specialist 2nd Class Ralph Thompson. "I'm honored to be a part of helping the disaster relief workers. I just hope that they are pleased and that the food nourishes their bodies so they can get back out there and do their job.
"I had one man tell me the food was outstanding. He said it was the best meal he has had in a long time," said Thompson.
Thompson added that knowing that they are helping and that people care helps the Sailors deal with the most difficult part of their mission; leaving their families behind.
He added, "We are happy to stay as long as we know we are helping.
(FROM MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
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