Lt. Michael Tripp, a Springfield, Ill. native from the Medical Treatment Facility aboard the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), checks the pulse of a patient at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

Chittagong, Bangladesh (Jul. 05, 2006) Lt. Michael Tripp, a Springfield, Ill. native from the Medical Treatment Facility aboard the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), checks the pulse of a patient at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital during the ships visit to provide humanitarian and civic assistance to the people of Bangladesh. The ship is in the third month of a scheduled five-month deployment to host nations in the Pacific Islands, and South and Southeast Asia, having recently completed 24 days of humanitarian assistance to the people of the southern Philippines. Mercys mission is being carried out in conjunction with nongovernmental organizations, and in close coordination and partnership with local medical care professionals. Volunteers from Project HOPE, Operation Smile and the University of California at San Diego Pre-Dental Society joined Mercy, along with a contingent of military medical specialists from the U.S., India, Singapore, and Canada. Mercy is uniquely capable of supporting medical and humanitarian assistance needs and is configured with special medical equipment and a robust multi-specialized medical team that can provide a range of services ashore as well as aboard the ship. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael R. McCormick File# 060705-N-3931M-109