Photo By William Love | 180621-N-KF478-215 CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (June 21, 2018) – During the 120th...... read more read more
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- Naval Health Clinic (NHC) Corpus Christi celebrated the 120th birthday of the Navy Hospital Corps in the Crew’s Lounge following morning colors June 21.
The observance featured a cake cutting ceremony in which the highest-ranking hospital corpsman present, Master Chief Petty Officer (SW/FMF) Andy Burnett, command senior enlisted leader, 47, presented the first piece of cake to the youngest, Hospitalman Trevor Smith, 19, signifying the passing of experience and knowledge from the old to the young in the hospital corps.
It was on June 17, 1898 that Congress and then-President William McKinley established the Navy Hospital Corps.
During his remarks, Capt. Miguel A. Cubano, the clinic’s commanding officer, highlighted the Navy corpsman’s heritage.
“We are celebrating 120 years of excellence. Each and every one of you represents what a corpsman was in year one. And this is the legacy that will continue because of the dedication and all of the core values that you possess.”
Although their name has changed from loblolly boy to pharmacists mate to hospital corpsman, the Hospital Corps’ service to others remains the same today as it has been since the beginning.
Consisting of more than 30,000 active duty and reserve Navy hospital corpsmen today, the Hospital Corps is the largest and most decorated rating in the Navy. Twenty naval ships have been named after hospital corpsmen. Since 1919, 178 corpsmen have received the Navy Cross Award. In the Vietnam War alone, hospital corpsmen received four Medals of Honor, 31 Navy Crosses, 127 Silver Stars, and 291 Bronze Stars for heroics under fire, a testament to the quality of character of the men and women that wear the caduceus and answer to “doc”.
During the ceremony, NHC Corpus Christi staff honored the strength, valor, fidelity, and compassion of men and women in the Hospital Corps as well as clinic Fleet Marine Force (FMF) corpsmen who were previously decorated for bravery in battle.
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (FMF) Charles P. Albrecht received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, as well as Combat Action Ribbon, for running through improvised explosive device (IED) laden territory in Helmand province, Afghanistan to treat and recover two Marines.
Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (FMF) Adam Sanchez received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for braving heavy enemy fire, running through open ground to reach his wounded Marines, each time stabilizing the casualties and coordinating successful medical evacuations.
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF) Michael Bundeson received the Purple Heart, as well as the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for assessing and providing medical treatment to wounded Marines after sustaining wounds of his own during patrol operations, and under heavy enemy fire.
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF) Raul Cervantes received the Purple Heart, as well as the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for disregarding his own injuries to assess and provide medical treatment to 12 wounded Marines, after a suicide vehicle-borne IED struck his vehicle and ejected him while conducting counter IED operations.
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF) Dustin Zimmer received the Purple Heart for heroic achievement while disregarding his own wounds after regaining consciousness and climbing through the turret of a burning vehicle that had been struck by an IED, to triage and provide medical treatment to three wounded Marines.
Chief Hospital Corpsman (FMF) Stephen Armstrong received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for heroic achievement after his military transition team fell victim to a complex ambush outside the village of Bejyt. He directed the triage procedures and began treating and stabilizing the wounded ranging from traumatic amputations, burns, gunshot wounds and shock.
Chief Hospital Corpsman (FMF) Ryan Faulhaber received the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device for heroic achievement after his military transition team was attacked while on patrol with an enemy IED and enemy small arms fire. The vehicle was destroyed, and all five team members inside were wounded, two severely. Without hesitation, he moved to the vehicle which was already burning and emitting acrid smoke and flames, and assisted in removing casualties from the vehicle, despite personally suffering smoke inhalation. Ignoring the incoming enemy fire which continued to impact around the position, he then provided lifesaving treatment to the two most seriously wounded Marines.
Following the ovation, Cubano urged his corpsmen to consider the risks that they might potentially face, and to reflect on the significance of their service as Navy corpsmen.
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF/AW) Koleea K. Flagg, Directorate Clinical Support Services (DCSS) leading petty officer, says she is honored to care for others.
“I get to serve in a Corps that was established in 1898, and I get to put on the cloth that signifies that I have been entrusted with a special duty in order to render health care to my best ability. Being a corpsman, people entrust themselves – the most vital thing to them is their body – and we should consider it an honor and a privilege to be able to serve them.”
Flagg is from Atlanta, Georgia and has been in the Navy for 16 years.
“I also value my FMF qualification very highly because I am not only a shipboard Sailor corpsman, but I am an FMF corpsman who serves with the Marines. And it’s an honor to go through that rigorous training and be able to serve alongside your Marine brothers and sisters and render health care to them because we are their Navy Medicine.”
The Hospital Corps provides health care to Sailors, Marines, and those entrusted to their care on the battlefield, at sea, under the sea, and in military treatment facilities worldwide.
| Date Taken: | 06.21.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.25.2018 11:17 |
| Story ID: | 282164 |
| Location: | CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 229 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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