200515-N-PP197-1048 PACIFIC OCEAN (May 15, 2020) The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, fly over the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) during Mercy’s transit to San Diego. Mercy deployed to Los Angeles in support of the nation's COVID-19 response efforts, and served as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients admitted to shore-based hospitals. This allowed shore-based hospitals to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases. One of the Department of Defense's missions is Defense Support of Civil Authorities. DoD is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, as well as state, local and public health authorities in helping protect the health and safety of the American people. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Stacy D. Laseter/Released)