News and Policy
Four colombians onboard USNS Comfort
Four servicemembers working aboard hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) had a unique homecoming on August 22 when Comfort dropped anchor off the coast of Colombia.
The Airman, Sailors, and U.S. Public Health Service member share a Colombian heritage that, after having left Colombia to live and study in the United States, fuels them in their continual service to Comfort's humanitarian mission.
Air Force Air National Guard Master Sgt. Victoria Deering, a laboratory technician working in Comfort's pharmacy, was born in Medellin, Colombia. Her parents sought a better life for their child and moved her to New York City when she was two. Deering later moved to Alaska, but stayed in touch with and visited her grandmother and aunt in Medellin.
Master Sgt. Deering arrived in Colombia with a purpose - to help people in need in her homeland and throughout Latin America.
"I am proud to get the opportunity to return to Colombia on this important humanitarian mission," said Deering. "I feel honor and pride to serve the U.S. Air Force and at the same time help my fellow countrymen. I hope the Colombian people learn that the United States is a neighbor they can trust."
Cmdr. Sandra Hearn, a member of Comfort's Pre-Deployment Site Survey (PDSS) team, returned to Bogota, Colombia in April as part of the team's preparation for the upcoming deployment. Hearn visited with family members during the stay, some of whom she had not seen in 34 years.
Much like Deering's parents, Hearn's parents left Colombia in 1960 to seek a better life in the United States. From poor families, they worked as laborers in the states. The couple met in Miami, where they were later married. Hearn was born in Boston, Mass. and later moved to a small family farm in Colombia where they lived for one year before returning to the United States.
Shortly after returning from a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan, Hearn received a call from Comfort to join the hospital ship's deployment to 12 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Despite having just returned home to her family, Hearn felt a special calling to take on the new deployment.
"I specifically requested to be on the team that visited Colombia," said Hearn. "My feelings were mixed because I had been away from my family for seven months. My husband was extremely supportive and our thoughts were 'it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' to return to Colombia in this capacity - a humanitarian mission."
After her initial visit in April, Hearn found herself looking at Colombia again on August 22, the land of her ancestors and an opportunity for her to help people in need.
"I hope the people of Colombia from east to west and north to south value our ties to Colombia," said Hearn. "I enjoy seeing the smiles and tears of joy on all the patients we reach out and touch, and I hope they understand our hope to have strong, lasting relationships in medical, social and political affairs."
Lt. Diana Garcia, a medical liaison for Comfort's medical operations, has spent the last 28 years in the United States. Born and raised in Barranquilla, Garcia spent 12 years living in the same house with a large loving family. She left Colombia for the states when she was 12 to go live with one of her aunts who had the opportunity to move to the U.S.
Garcia returned to Colombia as part of Comfort's Advanced Coordination Element (ACE) team and visited with her father for the first time in 12 years in Bogota. After returning aboard Comfort Aug 22, Garcia began work on completing the second part of her goal in Colombia.
"I wanted to accomplish two things while in Colombia," said Garcia. "One was to see my dad after not seeing him for 12 years. The other thing I want to accomplish is to leave a positive footprint on the minds of all Colombians by helping as many people as we possibly can. I hope the people of Colombia get the medical help they need and a sense of solidarity with the United States."
Lt. j.g. Paula Arango-Gomez, a dental hygienist with the U.S. Public Health Service, celebrated her birthday Aug. 22. Looking out from the weather decks of the Comfort, she could see her home of 21 years. After 18 years in the states, she returns to Colombia to offer aid to people she grew up with.
Gomez was also born in Medellin, where she lived for 21 years. After her father passed away when she was 13, her mother raised her along with eight other siblings in the traditional Hispanic life style.
Pushed to succeed in education, she graduated from SENA (government-sponsored vocational school) as a dental hygienist in 1987.
In 1989 she left Colombia bound for Pennsylvania. Still driven to learn more, she completed a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene from Northern Arizona University. After years of education and time spent away from Colombia, she volunteered to return to her home to support Comfort's mission.
"One of the motivations for coming on this humanitarian mission was visiting Colombia," said Gomez. "I am very happy to return to my country and represent the U.S. Public Health Service. I want to serve as an example for future relationships between Colombia and the United States."
As Comfort dropped anchor in the waters bordering Bahia Malaga, Colombia, four servicemembers from different backgrounds and services gazed upon the land each considered home. United with a common cause, they set out to support Comfort's humanitarian mission, to help people in need and to spread compassion and hope to the people of a land they love.
Bogotá D.C., August 24, 2007