Consolation (AH 15) - Naval Cruise Book

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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.

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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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THE CAPTAIN Captain W. M. GuUett, USN, a Naval Academy appointee of 1922 from Illinois, came to the USS CONSOLATION from duty as Commanding Offi- cer of the Naval Security Station, Washington, D. C. Captain Gullett reported aboard the USS IDAHO after being graduated from the Naval Academy in 1927. He returned to Annapolis in 1934 to attend Post Graduate School and again in 1939 as an instructor. During World War II, he served as Executive Officer of the USS BISCAYNE m the Atlantic and Mediterranean, as Commander of LST GROUP 26 in the Atlantic, and as Commander of LST GROUP 62 in the Pacific. Captain Gullett was awarded the Legion of Merit for his services in the invasion of Sicily and Salerno, Italy; a Gold Star in lieu of a second award for his part in the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa; and a Unit Citation for services on the USS BISCAYNE. EXECUTIVE OFFICER Commander J. M. Dukes enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1926. Following indoctrination training, Commander Dukes was assigned duty in the Pacific Fleet, serving in the battleship USS TEN- NESSEE gunnery department until September 1942. During this period of duty on board the USS TENNESSEE, Commander Dukes was appointed to warrant rank in February 1941. He received his commission as Ensign on June 15, 1942. On 7 De- cember 1941 our Executive Officer was serving in the capacity of assistant to the gunnery officer during the initial Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. During World War II, he served in the Pacific Fleet with the following type ships: destroyers, auxiliary tankers, and attack transports. He holds awards for the following campaign medals and ribbons: Asiatic Pacific Theatre (9 operations); American Theatre; American Defense Mqdal and ribbon with the bronze star; World War II Victory Medal with fleet clasp and ribbon; Navy Occupation Service ribbon; China Service ribbon.