Comfort (T AH 20) - Naval Cruise Book

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HMCM JERRY ROBINSON, USN Command Master Chief Jerry Robinson completed bootcamp in 1961 and was assigned to his first duty station at Naval Hospital Newport, Rhode Island Post Hospital Corps School. In 1963, he completed Neuro-Psychology C-School and returned to Naval Hospital Newport. HMCM Robinson was then assigned to duty in Vietnam where he served on a river patrol boat serving the Ma- rines in 1968. He later reported to duty at Headquarters and Support Battalion FMF Pacific at Headquarters Pearl Harbor from which he later went to COMNAVLOGPAC Pearl Harbor. In the late 1970 ' s, HMCM Robinson was assigned to COMNAVSER MIDPAC acting as Special Assistant to the Medical Department Representative. He advanced to Master Chief in 1980 and became a Command Master Chief in 1982 on assignment to a helo squad- ron at NAS, North Island, San Diego, California. Following that, he became Command Master Chief at NAS Adak, Alaska. HMCM Robinson was transferred to NNMC Bethesda in 1987 and select- ed Command Master Chief in 1988. He became Command Master Chief of USNS COMFORT in August 1990 on the ship ' s deploy- ment. HMCM Robinson was awarded many personal medals and com- mendations throughout his long, distinguished 30 year naval ca- reer. 12

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CHARLES CHIP ZULAUF FIRST OFFICER USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20) First Officer Charles Zulauf attended and graduated from the Harry Lundeburg School of Seamanship. His first following assignment was to the SS WORTH (which ironically is the current USNS MERCY (T-AH 19). The ship made an around-the-world voyage that included a visit to Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates to load oil. Mr. Zulauf spent the next 14 years sailing on commercial ships in various assignments. He had experienced duty on nearly every type of merchant vessel and was ready to expand his professional horizons. Thus, he decided to switch from the commercial shipping industry to the Military Sealift Command as he felt it would be very interesting to work with the military. In 1989, he applied to the MSC. At the moment in which he was being told the MSC was not then hiring Officers and definitely not First Officers, a MSC official noted his Baltimore address and informed him that MSC was in need of a Relief Officer from Balti- more on the COMFORT. Subsequently, he was promoted to Second Officer for a different ship assignment, returned to USNS COMFORT and then was promoted to First Officer (Chief Mate) for another assignment. He thus returned to the COMFORT as First Officer with all this occurring in the space of a year. Five weeks later in August 1990, COMFORT was activated. First Officer Zulauf sees his role on this ship as primarily being Second in Command and Deck Department Head. His other duties are multiple and varied, including: Damage Con- trol Officer; Safety Officer; Training Officer; and Physical Security Officer. Mr. Zulauf is no stranger to naval conflict. He found himself in close proximity to a little publicized war in 1980 between Peru and Equador, having been involved in commercially shipping cargo into Peru and out of Equador. A more recent experience was the Persian Gulf tanker war of 1987-1988. He was the Second Mate on a tanker carrying jet fuel from Bahrain to worldwide military bases. He notes his current cargo of 1200 plus MTF and MSC crew plus their patients to be the most important he has ever had responsibility for as an MSC Officer. n

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HMCM JOHN KELSEY, USN USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20) Command Master Chief John Kelsey en- listed in the Navy in 1961. His first duty station as a Hospital Corpsman was in a dispensary in the shipyard at Pearl Harbor. HMCM Kelsey served with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division in the Vietnam con- flict. He was wounded three times and was awarded three Purple Hearts and also received the Silver Star. After completing Advanced Hospital Corps School, HMCM Kelsey was assigned to USS SANDOBAL (LPH- 194). He later served a tour at Camp David, the Presidential retreat from 1971-1977 at the time serving President ' s Nixon, Carter, and Ford. He was awarded a Presidential Service Badge and a Navy Achievement Medal, while aboard USS INCHON (LPH-12). Senior Chief Kelsey then made Master Chief and was selected Command Master Chief. During the time he was assigned at CINCPACFLT Pear Harbor as the Enlisted Advisor to Fleet Surgeon, he was awarded the Meritorious Ser- vice Medal. HMCM Kelsey was awarded a second Navy Commendation Medal while assigned in 1987-1989 as Special Assistant to the Director of Hospital Administration. In 1990, he was assigned to USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20) as the Command Master Chief. 13