Casualties were 28 killed (including six nurses), and 48 wounded, with considerable damage to the ship

Comfort was one of three hospital ships, the others being USS Hope (AH-7) and USS Mercy (AH-8), built, commanded and crewed by the Navy for the Army. These ships, unlike the Navy hospital ships, were intended for evacuation and transport of patients after primary care had been given. Medical equipment and personnel were provided by the Army. The Army medical complement table of organization provided for the temporary reinforcement of the staff if the ship directly supported amphibious operations.

Comfort operated throughout World War II with a Navy crew and Army medical personnel. She sailed from San Pedro, on 21 June 1944 for Brisbane, Australia, and Hollandia, New Guinea. Operating from Hollandia, where a major Army hospital center had been established to handle casualties from the Philippine operations, the hospital ship evacuated wounded from Leyte, Philippine Islands, on two voyages in October and November and then brought patients back to San Pedro, Calif., in December. Returning by way of Leyte, Comfort reached Hollandia on 6 February 1945. Following a voyage to Subic Bay and Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, for evacuees in March, the hospital ship stood by off Okinawa from 2 to 9 April, receiving wounded for evacuation to Guam. Returning to Okinawa on 23 April, six days later she was struck by a Japanese suicide plane. The plane crashed through three decks exploding in surgery which was filled with medical personnel and patients. Casualties were 28 killed (including six nurses), and 48 wounded, with considerable damage to the ship. After temporary repairs at Guam Comfort sailed for Los Angeles, Calif., arriving on 28 May.

Comfort arrived in Subic Bay on 5 September 1945 and until 11 October served as station hospital ship. Following a voyage to Okinawa she sailed for home by way of Yokohama, Japan, and Guam, reaching San Pedro, Calif., on 11 December. She made another voyage to Manila, Yokohama, Inchon, Korea, and Okinawa between 1 January and 4 March 1946 before being decommissioned at San Francisco on 19 April 1946. She was transferred to the Army the same day.

Comfort received two battle stars for World War II service.

Comfort was loaned to the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine in 1953, serving as one of the school's training ships TS State of Maine until 1963.

Comfort arrived in Subic Bay on 5 September 1945 and until 11 October served as station hospital ship. Following a voyage to Okinawa, she sailed for home by way of Yokohama, Japan, and Guam, reaching San Pedro, Calif., on 11 December. She made another voyage to Manila, Yokohama, Inchon, Korea, and Okinawa between 1 January and 4 March 1946 before being decommissioned at San Francisco on 19 April 1946. She was transferred to the Army at 1100 the same day.

Comfort was placed in the Hudson River group of the Reserve Fleet at 1400 on 25 November 1949, and was declared surplus to the Maritime Commission on 18 December 1949.

Loaned to the Maine Maritime Academy, Comfort was removed from the Hudson River group at 1145 on 24 August 1953. Renamed State of Maine, she served as a training ship for nearly a decade, until returned to the Reserve Fleet, being placed in the Beaumont, Texas, group at noon on 28 June 1962. The vessel remained inactive until purchased by the Southern Scrap Material Co., Ltd., on 17 April 1967. She was removed from the Reserve Fleet at 1210 on 2 October 1967.

Comfort received two battle stars for her World War II service, for her participation in the Leyte (24 October 1944) and Okinawa (2–25 April 1945) campaigns.

Updated, Robert J. Cressman

1 April 2020

Published: Mon Apr 06 17:55:52 EDT 2020

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/comfort-ii.html

USS COMFORT (AH-6)