USS Harry S. Truman Helps Canadian Sailor

The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) provided medical assistance to a Canadian sailor assigned to HMCS Toronto, Aug. 27.

Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 were conducting flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) when they received the request for medical assistance from Toronto.

An MH-60S helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7, “Dusty Dogs”, embarked aboard Truman, transported the Canadian sailor from Toronto to Harry S. Truman.

“We’re all professional mariners,” said Capt. Bob Roth, commanding officer, Harry S. Truman. “Regardless of what our mission is, when we get a request for help, we’re going to respond. HSC-7 and our medical team aboard Truman did a fantastic job of getting that sailor safely off his ship, safely onto ours and providing the medical attention he needed.”

Once aboard, the sailor was received by Truman’s medical department where the ship’s surgeon, Lt. Cmdr. Camilo Santiago, assessed the patient’s condition and began making steps toward providing the proper level of care.

“He was initially assessed as being in critical condition,” said Santiago. “After being treated here on Truman most of the day yesterday and overnight, his condition improved significantly and we were able to transport him to Bahrain where he’ll continue to receive care.”

Rear Adm. Kevin Sweeney, commander, Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG), commented on the crew’s response in assisting with the medical evacuation.

“The crews did a great job all the way around,” said Sweeney. “The professionalism of Toronto’s crew in caring for their sailor until HSC-7 arrived was crucial to his well-being. HSC-7 got the patient here safely and Truman’s medical department was able to assess and then stabilize his condition not too long after his arrival. They provided the urgent medical care he needed and might not otherwise have received.”

The patient was flown by a C-2 Greyhound aircraft to Bahrain Aug. 28.

Aircraft carrier and flagship Harry S. Truman is deployed as part of HST CSG to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts, and missions in support of OEF.

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Press Release, September 10, 2013; Image: US Navy