NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- When the USNS Comfort came home to Norfolk last November following two months of relief duty in Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the hospital ship and crew had treated more than 1,800 patients, performed more than 200 surgeries, and even delivered two babies.
Navy Times reports that the Navy has plans to retire one of its two hospital ships, either the Mercy or the Comfort, early as the end of 2019.
Each of the nearly 900-foot long ships can accommodate 1,000 patients including 80 in intensive care. Helicopters can rapidly deliver casualties.
In short, the Comfort and Mercy show off this country's best humanitarian qualities, which can be a valuable tool for advancing American interests abroad.
Naval historian and author Amy Yarksinske thinks it would be a mistake to get rid of one of them.
"It's the goodwill that the Mercy and the Comfort do," she said. "It's also not only what they do for the Navy itself, our military, but what they do overseas. They are a signature item when tragedy occurs overseas, a natural disaster, in the Pacific, in Africa, down south when the hurricanes hit Puerto Rico and the islands, Key West. You're spreading yourself very thin not to have them in the inventory."
In the end, it will be up to Congress, via Defense Authorization and appropriations bills-- to make the final decision on this.
13News Now is still awaiting word from the Hampton Roads members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.
PHOTOS: USNS Comfort deploys to Puerto Rico for hurricane disaster relief
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