Photo By Sgt. Megan Sindelar | Navy Corpsmen roll in the traditional birthday cake to celebrate the Hospital Corps'...... read more read more
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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – More than 100 personnel from Camps Leatherneck and Bastion celebrated the Navy Hospital Corps’ 112th birthday, June 19 at a dining facility located on Camp Leatherneck.
The ceremony brought together Navy, Army and British medical personnel as well as Marines to celebrate the birth of a corps which has been historically cited for their service and gallantry in risking their own lives to save that of a fallen comrade without hesitation in conflicts and wars.
The guest speaker of the ceremony, Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett, the Regional Command Southwest sergeant major, spoke about individual corpsmen he’s witnessed in action and praised them for their heroic acts under the toughest conditions.
“When you call “corpsman up,” they come running,” said Barrett. “I’ve witnessed our docs, nurses and corpsmen in action, like HM3 McKenzie. I watched him run into the middle of the street during a vicious firefight with no regard for his own safety, because he simply heard the words “corpsman up.” Wounded in the process he successfully retrieved his ‘brother,’ and saved him from certain death.”
The individual Marine knows that “doc” can be counted on to respond no matter how dangerous the situation. From learning every weapons system in a battalion, running sick call, treating wounded and ill Afghan civilians, police and soldiers, corpsmen have earned high praise and respect.
Seaman Anderson Hernandez, a corpsman with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and other corpsmen found themselves in harm's way to accomplish their mission of treating the Marines. The corpsmen, at times, even treat the enemy for battle wounds.
"HN Hernandez is as close to a Marine as you can get," said Staff Sgt. Joseph Wright, platoon sergeant for 2nd Platoon, Kilo Company, 3/6. "On numerous occasions he has run under machine-gun fire to aid Marines and our Afghan allies. He is a vital part of the platoon and the Marines respect him. We wouldn't want to go anywhere without corpsmen. It is their guidance and their hand that actually keeps us alive when bad things do happen."
The Navy corpsman’s rating has 22 Medal of Honor recipients, 174 Navy Crosses, 31 Distinguished Cross Awards, 964 Silver Stars, 1, 582 Bronze Stars and 20 ships that have been named after hospital corpsmen.
“The Hospital Corps is the most decorated branch in the United States Navy,” said Barrett. “They have an unbreakable bond between our two services.”
Brigadier George Norton, deputy commander, Regional Command Southwest, opened the ceremony with words of gratitude for those who are simply known as “Doc.”
“I’m hugely aware of the remarkable achievements of you as a corps, of the incredible bravery shown day after day by those we are honoring today,” said Norton. “As somebody who has come from the outside as your guest in many respects for the next twelve months I just want to express my enormous admiration for what you have achieved.”
| Date Taken: | 06.19.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.20.2010 09:29 |
| Story ID: | 51692 |
| Location: | CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF |
| Web Views: | 317 |
| Downloads: | 242 |
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