From U.S. The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived here Sept. 28 at the request of the Department of Health and Human Services and Louisiana government state officials. The ship, one of the largest trauma facilities in the nation, is preparing to act as an emergency trauma center for New Orleans as its citizens begin to repopulate the Crescent City. During this mission, Comfort will be under the operational control of Joint Task Force Rita. “We are looking forward to helping the city of New Orleans get back on its feet and are ready to assist the people in any way we can,” said Capt. Thomas Allingham, commanding officer of the ship’s Medical Treatment Facility. Comfort has been operating in the Gulf Coast region for nearly three weeks.