The USNS Mercy hospital ship sits at dock before its departure Monday, March 23, 2020, in San Diego. The Navy hospital ship was preparing to leave San Diego on Tuesday and planned to spend a few days at sea getting its newly formed medical team used to working together before arriving to Los Angeles to help the city free up its hospital beds, in efforts to help combat the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
March 26, 2020
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Virus takes toll on US military as it tries to aid civilians
WASHINGTON (AP) — The coronavirus is taking a growing toll on the U.S. military, and commanders and senior officials are bracing for worse. From nuclear missile fields at home to war zones abroad, from flight lines to ships at sea, the Pentagon is striving to shield vital missions even as it faces urgent calls for help on the civilian front.