Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Carmen Fleischmann | Navy petty officers with Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s Joint Medical Group take part...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - “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.”
Reciting the noble words of the Corpsman Pledge, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and Joint Task Force GTMO Sailors gathered together to honor the traditions and heroism displayed since the creation of the Hospital Corps. Together they read the words that spoke to the courage and commitment exemplified by hospital corpsmen over the last 100 years, during the 116th Hospital Corpsman birthday celebration, held Saturday at the Windjammer.
In its century of service, the Hospital Corps has proven itself ready to support Marines and Sailors by giving them aid whenever and wherever necessary.
After the American Civil War, the need for a professional, well-trained group of individuals to provide medical care for the Navy became apparent. President William McKinley signed a bill on June 17, 1898, establishing the Hospital Corps and thereby designating all medical Sailors as hospital corpsmen.
Since that time, they have been putting themselves in danger to provide care to those on the battlefield. At the very beginning of the ceremony, Sailors performed a symbolic ceremony in remembrance of prisoners of war and those missing in action. One of the many traditions of military customs, setting an empty table in open view, reminds those in attendance of those that paid the ultimate sacrifice. In this particular evening, they honored those hospital corpsmen that never returned home from their duty.
“One of the stronger traditions that binds corpsmen on each Hospital Corps birthday is the remembrance of our brothers and sisters who have fallen in combat, often times giving their lives so that others may live,” read master of ceremonies Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Ben Henson, just before observing a moment of silence.
Recognizing the heritage of the corps, a group of Sailors showcased the many uniforms worn by corpsmen throughout the century of their service. One of the members of this prestigious service was the 11th master chief petty officer of the Navy, who was in attendance to celebrate that heritage and applaud the newest generation of corpsmen.
“I became the MCPON as a direct result of being a hospital corpsman,” said former Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe Campa. “While I can no longer stand beside you in the ranks, I will never forget the joy I felt as a Navy corpsman.”
Campa was also on hand to take part in the historic cake cutting tradition, accompanied by the most senior and junior Sailors in the room.
JTF Sailor, Petty Officer 2nd Class Emerson Gutierrez, a member of the planning committee, said he was thoroughly impressed with the outcome of the event.
“It turned out to be a very enjoyable night from start to finish,” said Gutierrez. “The planning of the event was very long and tiring from figuring out what the food menu would be, the covering of the table and program itself, and the different fundraisers we had to come up with to raise money for the event, but overall it was well put together.”
He also credits the success of the evening to personnel from JTF GTMO’s Joint Medical Group for showing support for the event hosted by the Naval Hospital.
The evening concluded with the singing of “Anchors Aweigh” and the “Marines' Hymn,” before those in attendance enjoyed socializing and live music performed by local band Sherman Avenue.
“It was an honor to be united with fellow corpsmen and other members of our armed forces as we recognized the contributions hospital corpsmen have made and continue to make to our great nation,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Albert Acosta, a JTF Sailor with the JMG. “All in all, it was a night of celebrating our rich history, with great people, great food and great dancing. It’s our privilege to answer the call of ‘Corpsman Up!’”
| Date Taken: | 06.26.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.26.2014 14:37 |
| Story ID: | 134530 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY , CU |
| Web Views: | 457 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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