Consolation (AH 15) - Naval Cruise Book

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U.S.S. CONSOLATION (AH-15) The Gailcp ng Ghost of the Korean Ccast, The Floating Band-Aid, and The Albino are nicknames given by thousands of fighting men to one of the two remaining hospital ships in commission. Authorized by Congress, the hospital ship, USS CONSOLATION (AH-15) was commissioned on 22 May 1945 at Hoboken, New Jersey. She is a product of the Bethlehem Steel Company. She has an overall length of 520 feet, a normal displacement of 15,034 tons, and a cruising speed of 17 knots. Her first duty was in Japanese waters evacuating and caring for ex-prisoners of war and allied nationals. Later, she took p ar! in operation Magic Carp ' ' which repatriated thousands of men from oversee:- it the end of the war. In July 195 the CONSOLATION was rapidly mobil- ized to full stT ' :igth in supplies and personnel and was the first host . l ship to arrive in Korean waters to furnish medi - :; support for the United Nations forces. She participa ' i in the Inchon invasion and operations at Wonson an i Hungnam. In 1951 she returned to the United States to Iiavo a 60 by 60 ft. helicopter landing platform built on her after deck. She returned to Sok- choRi, Korea, 15 miles above the 38th parallel where Operation Helicopter began within sight and sound of Communist guns. The first battle casualty ever flown direct from the field of battle to a hospital ship was landed by marine helicopter on 18 December, 1951. This was the beginning of a mission unprecedented in naval or medical history. In March 1952 when the battle action increased on the Western Korean front, the CONSOLATION was ordered to Inchon to furnish medical support to United Nations Troops. Patients were received by boat and helicopter, many within minutes of being wounded. In June 1952, she returned to the United States for upkeep and replenishment of supplies. The CONSOLATION returned once more to Inchon Harbor in Korea in September 1952 to continue her care of the sick and wounded. She continued this mission until June 1953, when she returned to the United States for a brief maintenance and overhaul period. In October 1953, she returned to Korean waters and although the fighting had ceased there were still many patients to care for among the United Nation troops and Korean civilians. During the Korean con- flict the CONSOLATION cared for 18,731 patients from United Nations forces. She took time out from her Korean schedule to make a good will call at Hiroshima, Japan, where she fed hundreds of Orphan children. The CONSOLATION is a well equipped general hospital with all the facilities one would find at a modern hospital within the United States. The medical facilities include four operating rooms, an x-ray and fluoroscopic department, complete laboratory and blood bank; eye, ear, nose 6 throat, urology, neuropsychiatry, physio-therapy, pharmacy and dental departments. There are beds for 785 patients. The medical and nurs- ing staff are all highly qualified in their various special- ties. The mobility of a floating, well equipped general hospital, plus the innovation of the helicopter for rapid transit oi seriously wounded personnel, has brought prompt definitive medical care to within minutes of the actual combat area. r Among the CONSOLATION ' S firsts are: 1. Participate in the Korean action. 2. Include a woman medical officer on her staff. 3. Return battle casualties to the United States from Korea. 4. Utilize an electroencephalograph (brain wave tracing) at sea. 5. Install and use a blood bank as standard equipment. 6. Have a helicopter flight deck installed. 7. Receive casualties from battlefield via heli-

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FOREWORD A hospital ship is many things to many people. To the men lying critically injured from a landmine explosion, to the Korean civilians struck by trains, to the severe burn cases or to the Korean mother shot while pilfering U.S. goods, she is the place where life saving measures were administered and many comforts extended to make their sufferings more tolerable. To our foreign brothers she will be remembered for extending the courtesies and services of her medical department and fostering good-will on foreign shores. To the crew who maintain her she is the ship which took us to distant lands far from loved ones at home. She demanded unceasing attention day and night, fair weather and foul. In her engine rooms they perspired while those standing the long hours of the quarterdeck watch in a cold Korean winter were freezing. To the medical personnel she is a first-rate, well equipped floating hospital. Because of her, facilities were at hand when emergencies arose. She meant long duty hours for her corpsmen and the constant vigils of the special watches. She supplied us with trained personnel working as a team with the welfare of the patient as the ultimate goal. She is a ship which prides in many firsts. First to participate in the Korean action; first to include a woman medical officer on her staff; first to return battle casualties to the United States from Korea; first to utilize an electro- encephlograph machine at sea; first to install and use a blood bank as standard equipment; first to have a helicopter flight deck installed; first to re- ceive casualties from the battle field via helicopters; and first to return to Korean shores after the cessation of hostilities. To all hands she is a many-sided creature showing both her good and bad points. As we walk her decks feeling the rolling of her hull through the waters of the blue Pacific with the sea mist spraying our faces, we thrill at being members of her crew. Whether spinning sea tales with our shipmates or carrying out our assigned details, she gave us a spirit of oneness. In all her many moods we wouldn ' t trade her for anything else in the world. Away from home she is a haven of safe return and the meeting place of friends. She is the object of our working hours and in many instances the place we look to for our most enjoyed relaxation. The CONSOLATION to each of us is an expression of our inner selves. Not quite our home but indeed our home away from home. The Connie has again set another first, — first in the hearts of her crew! DEDICATION To our patients who have been our care and responsibility . . .

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copter. 8. To have a Korean baby born aboard a hospital ship. The USS CONSOLATION has come home to take her place besides the other greats of the mothball fleet who served so well. Her communications file is stagnant, but the final messages read: COMSERVRON 3 you have performed every task assigned with determination and follow through X Good Luck X RADM Smith. COMNAVFE on the occasion of Consolation de- parture from Far East COMNAVFE wishes to thank and congratulate all hands for outstanding contribu- tions in medical care rendered to United Nations Forces X Consolation first hospital ship to report Far East following outbreak of hostilities 1950 X you have added to the fine traditions established during noteworthy career this vessel X well done. We shall not say good by but so long, for CON- SOLATION, you shall serve as long as those who hove served you live, as long as patients you have helped walk the earth, and as long as your red cross stands poised to help suffering humanity.