02-16-2012, 06:06 PM
Gutenberg wrote:
I live about a mile and a half from the Comfort's berth in Baltimore and I have to say that it makes more sense in Norfolk. It's too big and cumbersome to perform its original mission, which was to be a floating hospital for wounded troops and sailors, so it runs humanitarian missions. In Baltimore it's at least a half-day from the ocean--a full day is more likely. It's berthed in Baltimore so that docs from Bethesda Naval Hospital can jump aboard and go, but Bethesda's mission has changed--it's now the central hospital for wounded soldiers and sailors from the East Coast. Norfolk has Portsmouth Naval Hospital and it can pull docs and nurses from there. It's a better idea for these times.
I will miss the Comfort--when the ship heads out we gather on the pier to wave and encourage. But these days it makes better sense in Norfolk.
Gutenberg-
Looks like you've been reading The Baltimore Sun.