|
NAVAL HOSPITAL PENSACOLA, Fla. – Hospital corpsmen have a long
and proud tradition of excellence, honor, bravery and sacrifice as
the Navy's enlisted Medical Corps. On June 17, 2013, the Navy's
Hospital Corps celebrated 115 years of service.
Hospital
corpsmen perform their duties as assistants in the prevention and
treatment of disease and injury and assist health care professionals
in providing medical care to DOD personnel and their families.
|
A hospital corpsman hands a doctor a requested instrument during a
surgery at Naval Hospital Pensacola May 23, 2013. Whether assisting
doctors during surgery, checking patients' vitals, filling
prescriptions or giving aid on the battlefield, hospital corpsman
are always present in military medicine. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty
Officer 1st Class James Stenberg)
|
They may function as clinical or specialty technicians,
medical administrative personnel or health care providers at
Medical Treatment Facilities. They also serve as battlefield
corpsmen with the Marine Corps, rendering emergency medical
treatment to include initial treatment in a combat
environment.
Since the inception of the Navy in
1775, the need for sailors dedicated to the caring of the
sick and injured has been a priority. There were surgeon's
mates in the late 1700's, loblolly boys in 1841, male nurses
in 1861, baymen in 1876 and finally the establishment of the
Hospital Corps in 1898. The hospital corpsmen have a long
and proud tradition of taking care of those in their charge.
In order to ensure that the members of the new Hospital
Corps were adequately trained in the disciplines pertinent
to both medicine and to the Navy, a basic school for
corpsmen was established at the U.S. Naval Hospital Norfolk
(Portsmouth), Va.
Originally called the School of
Instruction, it opened Sept. 2, 1902. Its curriculum
included anatomy and physiology, bandaging, nursing, first
aid, pharmacy, clerical work and military drill. The first
class of 28 corpsmen graduated on Dec. 15, 1902.
Early history of the Hospital Corps set a pace of
conspicuous service and involvement that would continue to
the present.
According to www.Corpsman.com, before
there was even a Hospital Corps School, Hospital Apprentice
Robert Stanley was serving with the U.S. contingent at
Peking (Beijing), China.
A Chinese political group
that was opposed to the foreign presence in China prompted
attacks on foreign embassies in July 1900. During this
action, Stanley volunteered for the dangerous mission of
running message dispatches under fire. For his bravery,
Stanley became the first in a long line of hospital corpsmen
to receive the Medal of Honor.
World War I provided
the Hospital Corps a role that would afford it some of the
most dangerous challenges it would ever face: duty with the
Marine Corps. In the face of great adversity, the Hospital
Corps would cement its reputation for effectiveness and
bravery.
“The Marines do not have any medical
(personnel), we are their medical,” said Chief Hospital
Corpsman Chi Partick, command career counselor with Naval
Hospital Pensacola. “That's something to be proud of because
we go where the Marines go. We take the fight to the enemy
and do what they do. There is a lot of pride in that.”
World War II showed a sustained commitment between
Marines and the Hospital Corps. At Guadalcanal, Tarawa,
Peleliu, Saipan, Tinian, Kwajalein, Iwo Jima and Okinawa,
corpsmen were shoulder to shoulder with Marines every step
of the way. This is portrayed in one of the most recognized
images of the war where Hospital Corpsman John Bradley and
five Marines are seen raising the American flag on Mount
Suribachi.
The sacrifices of the Hospital Corps have
been evident in the honors received: 22 Medal of Honors, 174
Navy Crosses and 20 Naval Ships named in honor of Hospital
Corpsman.
During their 115 years of service, more
than 2,000 corpsmen have lost their lives while serving in
action.
“One thing I love is the rich history,” said
Patrick. “I take a lot of pride in that even though I have
never received a Medal of Honor or Purple Heart, I'm part of
an elite group of individuals that have done that. Just to
call myself a hospital corpsman is an immense amount of
pride.”
Today hospital corpsmen work in a variety of
environments. Some corpsman works indoors in hospitals or
clinics. Others work aboard ships and submarines, air
squadrons and in special operational environments.
Of course, corpsmen still serve with Marines, a bond that is
stronger than ever.
“Most of (corpsmen) bond very,
very tightly with our Marines,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd
class Justin Hillery, assistant leading petty officer,
Anesthesia Department, NHP. “As corpsmen, we are very
protective and attached to (our Marines). It's a unique
relationship and I loved every second of it.”
When
asked how he felt about hospital corpsmen, Lt. Cdr. David
Moore, A resident at NHP said, “Corpsmen always brought that
feeling of comfort to Marines.
Even if you got
injured or wounded, you always just felt like your corpsmen
would take care of you.
"I served with corpsman while
I was a forward air controller with a Marine infantry
battalion," said Moore, who was a Marine Corps Harrier pilot
prior to becoming a physician in the Navy. "Corpsman are
indispensable and watching what they do every day is what
helped me decide to pursue a career in medicine."
Just as some people decide they want to become a part of the
medical community, a few reluctantly leave in order to
pursue other avenues.
“When I was selected for the
command master chief program, I had to give up my rate,”
said Command Master Chief Douglas Sprague, with NHP. “Even
though I don't wear it on the sleeve any more, I still have
it in the heart, and I'm still a corpsman through and
through.”
By U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class James Stenberg
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
Comment on this article |
