FROM
A DOC'S
POINT OF VIEW
|
|
 |
|
As
a Corpsman in "Green" not White or Blue, I
offer this poem from a "Doc's" point of
view. We've been honored by stories, poems
and such, by Marines we have served with and
respected so much.
They speak of our honor, bravery, and skill.
And the cry, Corpsman up!" still gives me a
chill. When a Marine goes down, what will it
be? A trache? Sucking chest wound? Start an
IV?
Only one thing is certain as we rush to the
scene: Our butts will be covered by our
brothers in green. You see, we're adopted
"Sons of the Corps" -
No more "Anchors Away".... "Semper Fi"
evermore!
It's true when you're wounded your life's in
our hands; And we'll treat you and protect
you to the very last man.
You are our point man, our cover, our
shield, And we depend on your skills all our
days in the field.
Many a grunt's laid his life on the line;
To make sure "Doc" got to the wounded in
time. So, my brothers, I thank you, as all
us Docs should. It's YOU who make us
Corpsmen look good!!
Doc Hutch
Alpha Co.
1st Batt, 5th Marines
2nd Platoon
An Hoa Basin
'68-'69
|
SENT VIA: MAX BEERUP - HONORARY E 2 7 MARINE
usmcmaxinkc@aol.com
1. A common description of 8,404 hospital
corpsmen could be found in the 1980 book, Green Side
Out Marine Corps Sea-Stories by H. G. Duncan and W.
T. Moore, Jr. -- "A long haired, bearded, Marine-hatin'
Sailor with certain medical skills, who would go
through the very gates of Hell to tend to a wounded
Marine."
2. Be they assigned to hospital ships, reservist
installations, recruiter offices, or Marine Corps
combat units, the rating of Hospital Corpsman is the
most decorated in the United States Navy with 22
Medals of Honor, 174 Navy Crosses, 31Distinguished
Service Medals, 946 Silver Stars, and 1,582 Bronze
Stars. [2] There have been 20 naval ships that have
been named after hospital corpsmen.
Hospital Corpsman Pledge
"I solemnly pledge myself before God and these
witnesses to practice faithfully all of my duties as
a member of the Hospital Corps. I hold the care of
the sick and injured to be a privilege and a sacred
trust and will assist the Medical Officer with
loyalty and honesty. I will not knowingly permit
harm to come to any patient. I will not partake of
nor administer any unauthorized medication. I will
hold all personal matters pertaining to the private
lives of patients in strict confidence. I dedicate
my heart, mind and strength to the work before me. I
shall do all within my power to show in myself an
example of all that is honorable and good throughout
my naval career."
5. Ships named in honor of hospital corpsmen
6. Reference: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting
Ships
7. USS Caron (DD-970)
8. USS David R. Ray (DD-971)
9. USS Valdez (FF-1096)
10. USS Benfold (DDG-65)
11. USS De Wert (FFG-45)
12. USS Francis Hammond (FF-1067)
13. USS Daniel A. Joy (DE-585)
14. USS Don O. Woods (APD-118)
15. USS Durant (DER-389) *Also sailed as USCGC
Durant
16. USS Frament (APD-77)
17. USS Jobb (DE-707)
18. USS Liddle (DE-206)
19. USS Thaddeus Parker (DE-369)
20. USS Walter C. Wann (DE-412)
21. USS Henry W. Tucker (DD-875)
22. USS Jack Williams (FFG-24)
23. USS John Willis (DE-1027)
24. USS Lester (DE-1022)
25. USS Halyburton (FFG-40)
26. USS Litchfield (AG-95)
God Bless & Protect All Americans in Harm's Way
A BACKGROUND STORY ABOUT "DOC"
JEFF LEVINE FROM TOM BOLINDER:
Doc Levine was hit in the head by a 50 cal round on
operation Arizona.
He was running out to treat a
wounded Marine.
To every ones' surprise he survived.
We just had our reunion, E 2/7
Vietnam, in San Antonio and Doc Levine was there.
It is a small Marine Corps world.
Semper Fi
Tom Bolinder
Troy, no matter who they were or when they served,
there's one thing that Marines don't agree on....its
their corpsmen. Each one of us believed we had the
best. They were a great bunch of guys, Vance E. Kee,
HMCS USN ret., Winner of the Navy Cross was very well
known in the company. Most of his heroics were in early
1951.
Vito
Pileggi, Korea 1951/52
I recall the first night on
Outpost Carson, April 9th or
10th, 1953, my squad was
hunkered down in bunkers on
the reverse slope & other
bunkers going to the crest
of the outpost, as we were
receiving very heavy
incoming. Doc Minter was
treating a wounded Marine &
I was holding a candle to
give him some light.
Unfortunately, I kept
dripping hot wax on the poor
guy. Fortunately, according
to Doc, he did survive.
Another time, a
Corpsman came into the
bunker (I do not know
who he was) & broke down
in tears and blurted out
that he could not take
any more, seeing wounded
Marines suffering and
him trying to treat them
& some dying as he
treated them. All of
sudden, someone out in
the trench line shouted
"Corpsman" & this
individual picked up his
medical bag & took off
like a shot being fired
out of a rifle.
I cannot give enough
praise for the Corpsmen
who served with E-2-7
during the time I was in
Korea or any other time
that I served in the
Marine Corps. These men
will never know how much
they are respected by
Marines world-wide.
Semper Fidelis,
Chuck Tidwell
Master Sergeant,
U. S. Marine Corps
(Retired)
E-2-7 (2nd Squad, 2nd
Platoon) Korea 1953-54
|
DOC VANCE KEE WAS ALSO
WITH E-2-7. DOC WAS AWARDED THE NAVY CROSS WHILE
WITH US IN 1951.
LONG STORY SHORT. WE WERE IN A HELL OF A FIRE FIGHT.
(LASTED 4 HOURS BEFORE WE FINALLY TOOK THE HILL).ONE
OF GUYS STEPPED ON A LAND MINE AND WAS BADLY
WOUNDED. DOC KEE WENT INTO THE MINE FIELD, PUT HIS
BODY BETWEEN THE BAD GUYS AND THE WOUNDED MAN AND
PATCHED HIM UP AND SAVED HIS LIFE. ALL THIS TIME
UNDER HEAVY RIFLE AND MACHINE GUN FIRE. HOW THEY
NEVER BOTH GOT KILLED, I'LL NEVER FIGURE OUT. DOC
STAYED WITH HIM UNTIL WE FINALLY TOOK THE HILL. IT
WAS THE LAST 30 MIN OF THE FIGHT TO THE BEST OF MY
RECOLLECTION. THEY WERE ABOUT 30 YARDS TO MY LEFT
REAR.
THERE ARE NO BETTER PEOPLE IN THE WORLD THAN OUR
CORPSMEN!
Jerry J. Miller
Maj., USMC, Ret.
|
