Consolation (AH 15) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDING ,OFFICER Cap'I'ain J. W. MCELROY, USNR, Commanding Officer of fhe U.S.S. CONSOLATION KAH-I5l MEDICAL OFFICER Q Cap+ain J. R. SAYERS, MC, USN, Offiqcer in Command of The Hospi+aI in 'rhe U.S.S. CONSOLATION

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Commissioned in I945 'rhe U. S. Navy Hospifal Ship Consolafion has an overall lengfh of 520 fee'I', a normal displacemenf of l5,034 fons, and a cruising speed of I7 knofs. The Consolafion can provide medical and surgical care fo 786 bed pafienfs. Her op-- erafing rooms, laborafories, and clinics are comparable fo fhose of fhe mosf modern hos- pifals in fhe enfire world and are a fribufe fo fhe medical and denfal professions. Af fhe end of World War ll fhe Consolafion was acfively engaged in Japanese Wafers evacuafing and caring for ex-prisoners of war, and allied nafionals. Despife fhe sfrain on her facilifies, she freafed all wifh fhe necessary medical and'surgical care and refurned fhem home in greafly improved condifion. Lafer, she fook parf in operafion Magic Carpef, which repafriafed fhousands of men from overseas af fhe close of World War ll. Deparfing San Francisco, California, in July, I950, fhe Consolafion was fhe firsf Hos- pifal Ship fo arrive in Korea fo furnish medical supporf for Unifed Nafions Forces. Affer parficipafion in fhe S lnchon invasion of I950, and operafions af Wonsan and Hung- nam, 'l'he Consolafion was selecfed as fhe experimenfal h6spil'al ship 'l'o be fiffed wifh a Helicopfer fIigh+ deck fo expedife fhe fransporfafion of wounded 'I'o hospifal facilifies. The 60 fool' by 60 fool' landing plafform was consfrucfed af fhe U. S. Naval Shipyardxin Long Beach, California. When fhe work was complefed on I6 Augusf, l95l, fhe Consolafion refurned fo fhe Korean Theafer, fo resume her mission of medical supporf. ln December, l95I, anchored off Sokcho-Ri, I5 miles above fhe 38fh parallel, Opera- fion Helicop1'er began wifhin sighl' and sound of communisf guns on fhe Korean coasf. On I8 December, l95I, af l2:20 p.m., fhe firsl' baffle casualfy ever flown from 'l'he field of baffle fo a hospifal ship was landed by a Marine Helicopfer. This was fhe beginning of a mission unprecedenfed in Naval or Medical hisfory. ln lafe March, l952, when baffle acfion increased on fhe Korean wesfern fronf, fhe Con- solafion was ordered fo lnchon Harbor fo furnish medical supporl' fo fhe froops. Soon affer her arrival, fhe flow of pafienfs began. By boal' and helicopfer fhey came. Ba'H'le casualfies were admiffed and receiving freafmenl' wifhin minufes of being wounded. Affer mainfaining a daily pafienl' census of more fhan 400 for 'l'en weeks, in June, ll952 -I'he Consolafion was ordered home for a period of upkeep and replenishmenf of supplies. During her fwenfy monfhs of Korean dufy, fhe Consolafion admiffed and freafed more fhan l5,300 pafienfs wifh anofher 20,500 freafed as oufpafienfs.

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I l 1 I i . EXECUTIVE OFFICER DENTAL OFFICER LCDR P. J. RYAN, USNR Capfain C. T. PRIDGEON, DC, USN Execufive Officer of fhe Consolafion , I e . Ii 9 CHIEF OF MEDICINE CHIEF OF SURGERY CDR A- L- LAWLER- MC- USN CDR B. R. MCCAMPBELL, Mc, USN Chief of Medical Service Chief of Surgical Service