Comfort (T AH 20) - Naval Cruise Book

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CDR GREGORY S. POKLADOWSKI CHAPLAIN, U.S. NAVY COMMAND CHAPLAIN, USNS COMFORT Chaplain Greg Pokladowski was commissioned as an Ensign in the Chaplain Corps of the U.S. Navy in 1970 in the Ensign Theological School Program. He was ordained as a Roman Catholic Priest in 1973 in the Archdiocese of Chicago after completing Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary. CDR Pokladowski reported on active duty in June 1976 to Fleet Religious Support Activity, Atlantic Fleet, in Mayport, Florida for squadron chaplain duty. Subsequent duty stations have been at the United States Coast Guard Training Center, Alameda, California and then at Commander Service Group ONE, Oakland, California. Additionally, he served with Marine Aircraft Group 15, Iwakuni, Japan 1983-1984 with two deployments in that period to Korea, the latter being for Team Spirit ' 84. CDR Pokladowski assumed duty as a Chaplain at Naval Hospital, San Diego until 1989. In December 1990, he was assigned as Command Chaplain on USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20) as part of OPERATION DESERT SHIELD DESERT STORM. As for his participation in these operations, CDR Pokladowski says that serving as Command Chaplain onboard COMFORT is for him, the pinnacle of his experience with Navy Medicine, of which he is very proud. u

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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

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KELVIN C. JAMES CHAPLAIN, U.S. NAVY Chaplain Kelvin James was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Re- serve Theological Student Program and in 1982, received an appointment to ac- tive duty as a LTJG. He is a Baptist Minister of the American Baptist Church. His first active duty station was at the Fleet Religion Support Activity 104 in Philadel- phia in 1980. Subsequent assignments have been as Chaplain at 1st Force Service Support Group, Fleet Marine Force Pacific, Camp Pendleton. In 1986, Chaplain James reported to duty at Naval Air Station, Alameda, California. He then joined Amphibious Squadron Light, Norfolk. In 1986, he was selected for duty under instruction completing a Theological Master ' s Degree at Princton Theological Seminary in 1988. Chaplain James ' current permanent duty station is NNMC Bethesda to which he reported in 1988 and is presently deployed from TAD to USNS COMFORT. His duties on COMFORT include leading religious services, providing in-service training, and offering individual counseling. 15