Project HOPE’s relationship with the U.S. military, and particularly the Navy goes back to the organization’s beginnings. HOPE founder William B. Walsh, M.D., persuaded President Eisenhower in 1958 to donate a U.S. Navy hospital vessel to serve as the first peacetime hospital ship. The ship, known as the SS HOPE, was staffed with volunteer doctors and nurses and made 11 health education and humanitarian assistance voyages from 1960–1973. When the ship was retired, Project HOPE’s focus turned to land-based programs. Today, HOPE has ongoing programs in more than 35 countries. 

 

The unique partnership with the Navy was revived in 2004 in response to the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. At the request of the U.S. Navy, Project HOPE provided  more than 200 medical professional volunteers on board the USNS Mercy to care for victims of the unprecedented natural disaster. The HOPE – Navy partnership was called upon again in 2005 to come to the assistance of individuals and families in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast of the U.S. The following year, HOPE medical volunteers and Navy personnel returned to Southeast Asia on a humanitarian assistance mission, visiting several areas affected by the tsunami. Since then, the partnership has expanded to other regions of the world, providing health education as well as care to the local communities, especially children, in  coastal countries in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Oceania. Plans are underway for three humanitarian missions to West Africa, the Pacific Rim, and Latin America in 2008.

 

As we enter our 50th anniversary, this growing partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense represents one of many outstanding international programs sustained by Project HOPE. The partnership reminds us of our humble beginnings and propels us to continue to deliver health education and humanitarian assistance –by land or by sea – to those in need across the globe.

 

Timeline

1958	–	William B. Walsh, M.D. persuades President Dwight Eisenhower to donate a Navy hospital vessel to become the world’s first peacetime hospital ship, the SS HOPE.
1960	–	The SS HOPE sets sail from San Francisco bound for Indonesia.
1973	–	After completeting 11 voyages between 1960-1973 traveling to Indonesia and Vietnam, Peru, Ecuador, Guinea, Nicaragua, Colombia, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Tunisia, Jamaica, and Brazil (twice), the SS HOPE is retired.
2005	–	In partnership with the U.S. Navy, Project HOPE returns to ship-board care, sending 210 medical volunteers aboard the USNS Mercy to care for survivors of the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami. In August, 70 Project HOPE volunteers again board a U.S. Navy ship, the USNS Comfort, to care for residents along the Gulf Coast of the U.S. following Hurricane Katrina.
2006	–	Project HOPE volunteers return to Southeast Asia on board the USNS Mercy providing care to nearly 61,000 patients both on board the ship and ashore. More than 1,000 surgeries were performed, 10,500 immunizations administered, approximately 14,900 optometry exams provided, 6,000 teeth extracted and 41,000 prescriptions filled. Volunteers also participated in conducting more than 6,000 training courses for their host nation counterparts.
2007	–	Project HOPE partners with the U.S. Navy on two separate health education and humanitarian missions: one to Latin America with medical volunteers on board the USNS Comfort and another to Southeast Asia with volunteers on board the USS Peleliu. The ships visited a total of 16 countries bringing much needed care to approximately 115,000 patients, including some 59,000 children as well as providing health education to some 32,000 health care providers across these regions.