Qustion For you Vietnam Vets.

[jay2120]

First I would like to Thank all you Vietnam Vets. I think when you got home you all got shafted and were never thanked in the proper way. Everytime I meet a vietnam vet I always thank them. So again thank you all and God bless you. I have a question for you in Vietnam were are Corpsman from the Marines or did we get them from the Navy how we do now. I am asking because someone told me there uncle was a Marine and that he was a medic in Vietnam. I told her Corpsman are from the navy but are highly respected and are considered Marines because they train with us all the time. But I am not sure if in the past we did have are own Corpsman. I want to find out just for my own personal KNowlege so I decided to come to the experts. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Barlow]

Jay ,

In Vietnam Corpsman were U.S.Navy personnel. The" Docs" wore Marine Utes and Naval rank Insignia.

[Namvet67]

jay2120....Didn't the Corps teach Vietnam history while you were in MCRD? Did you graduate PI or SD? When were you there?

[jay2120]

Yes they teached Corp History. But they never said anything on that. Iwent to San Diego. They are teaching you all our history in 4 weeks I think that would be a pretty specific thing to go into. When they would rather us go into the battles that we were in and what we did.

[yellowwing]

I am asking because someone told me their uncle was a Marine and that he was a medic in Vietnam.
That doesn't sound right at all. I think you'd have to go way back to find our Corps with no Navy Corpsman.

Your friend or his uncle is highly confused.

[Namvet67]

Ok jay....what was your MOS and when do you graduate? I'm not trying to give you a hard time...just hard for me to believe you didn't know about Vietnam era Corpsmen! We do consider them as one of us and we could not do our job without them!

[jay2120]

0811 and I graduated in early 04. They did teach us about Vietnal all the battles and what we did there. I don't think they told us about the corpsman because we always had Navy Corpsman. My friend told Me his uncle was a Marine and was a corpsman because thqat was 30 years ago I wanted to make sure he was a Navy corpsman or did the Marines have corpsman. I know your not giving me a hard time but believe me they taught us about vietnam. None of the wars we learned about we went that in depth.

[Namvet67]

jay2120....ok so you are still in the Corps it would appear! Where are you stationed? I thought your MOS was going to be 0341 Mortar Man? (your post 12/19/03)

[jay2120]

Yes that is what I first wanted to be but I am in the reserves stationed out of Joliet IL. There were no infantry companies around sound I went Arty. The week after I reported to my unit they took away are guns and New we are an MP Rifle provisional company to go to Iraq in January. So I don't know what my ne MOS will be when we get back but we are no longer a guns platoon. There is rumors that we will become a second reserve company for Marine Recon but who knows.

[Namvet67]

Nothing wrong with being a 08! Not much need for them in Iraq at the moment! Good luck! Go study up on Corpsmen in Vietnam!

[jay2120]

I will SSGT thank you

[yellowwing]

HOSPITAL CORPSMAN SECOND CLASS David Robert Ray (http://www.bethesda.med.navy.mil/Visitor/Pride_of_Place/POP_Committee/MOH/Ray.htm) from my home town. Sadly many of the local kids have forgotten why there is a highway named in his honor.

Semper Fi Corpsman Ray!

[Namvet67]

Thanks for posting this yellowwing. I was there directing arty fire missions when this took place! I was with the 11th Marines for 36 months in Vietnam. There you go jay2120....best example of what a Veitnam era Corpsman is all about! Semper Fi

[jay2120]

great story and a hell of a Corpsman

[Ken Ulrich]

Hey, S/SGt. (Namvet67) - I too was with the 11th Marines. Golf Battery 3/11 at LZ Baldy. I was attached to Mike Co. 3/7 as radio operator in an ARTY F.O. team from March 1970 to June 1970. Lt. Scott Matthews was my honcho. Were you there then?

(Cpl.) Ken Ulrich Lexman78@comcast.net

[Joseph P Carey]

For the record kid, Marine Corpsmen are every bit Marines, ask any Marine in the line companies if a Corpsman is a Marine, and you will get the same answer, "They most certainly are!" The Corpsmen were formed in June 1898, and have been with the Marines every step of the way since then. There is no quit in these guys. They are like the energizer rabbit, they just keep going and going. Many of the Corpsman considered them selves to be Marines, instead of Navy, and I am not one to dispute them. They have brought great honor to us just to have them serving with us.

[Patdaly]

Jay some where in bootcamp they told you this but you were out to lunch that day and missed it. There are no none combatants in the Marines. Every marine is a rifleman. The Doctors, dentists, chaplains and even the corpman are in the Navy. Not Marines. We could not get along without them

[Joseph P Carey]

Doc is our man, right PatDaly! No one says anything against the Doc, unless you want to face 40 plus Marines from his platoon.

[GySgtRet]

jay2120,

You have either a serious learning disability or a bad memory. I suugest that you get a hold of some Marine Corps history books, and or talk with a Gunny or a Mustang to get your answers. Somebody has misguided you in some form or fashion. It is time before you ship out to get things wired where they belong. Isn't there PMEs anymore...??? If not it may be a good idea on your part to suggest it before you and your unit ship out.

Long live Navy Corpmen...!!!!

Semper Fidelis

[Old Marine]

I became a Marine in 1953 and we had Navy Corpmen at that time, so your friend must be mistaken. The Navy Doc's are great and most of them would rather be attached to the Marines than with the Navy.

[Namvet67]

Ken...I was with the 11th Marines the entire time I was in Nam from August 67 to July 70. I visisted most all of the batteries but I was in HQ Battery 11th Marines Regimental FDC. We were located 4 or 5 miles north of the Danang airbase. Welcome home brother.

[ridingcrops]

Same thing happened to me when I met a guy who kept saying he had been a Marine in the Nam.
I asked what he did in front of his girlfriend and he told me he was a medic.
I pointed out that all corpsmen were Navy but of course according to him I didn't know what I was talking about.
I guess after the second tour I lost it LMAO.
But sometimes I think some guys are trying to pose as something they weren't.
Sort of like when a guy told me he had been in the Coprs and his son said you were never in the service Dad. LOL

[Joseph P Carey]

For the record, The name Corpsman is an honored name; it is one of the most decorated names in the Military history of the United States Military. Corpsmen are proud of their title. I have never heard a Corpsman call himself a medic, because that is an Army term, and he is not Army. I have not often heard a Corpsmen call himself a Hospitalman, because, although it is his rank in the Navy, he will be proud to tell you he is in the FMF, and he is a Corpsman.

The Marine Corps has no Medics, Period! Should you really want to prove the man was not a Marine Medic, ask him what his Serial number was? If the man is any where near his late sixties down to his birthday of his 53rd year, his Serial number should be between 194000 and maybe 226000. The Marines used Individual Serial Numbers of six digits. The Army used RA or US Numbers. The thing is, if he gives you his Social Security number, he was not in the Marines at all, much less in Vietnam.

And, if he tells you he can not remember his Serial Number, you can tell him his is full of crap, because no Marine ever forgets his Serial Number. I still remember mine.

[TazMatt]

Cpl. Carey the Marine Corps used seven digit serial numbers when I was in 1969-1975 and yes I agree with you I still remember mine.

[Joseph P Carey]

My mistake of course I meant seven, and I still remember mine thank you, I just wrote it wrong! Besides, when we were looking to see who was boot, we usually ask the first three numbers. I was a 209, and my entry date was very close to my signing date, four days after I signed my papers, and 10 days after my seventeenth birthday, I was in PI.

[Osotogary]

Flogg me but I still remember my Air Force serial number from over 40 years ago, as well as, my draft card number....but don't ask me what I just did five minutes ago. LOL
I thought those numbers and the remembering of them brought you a reprieve, ever slight, from the hell you would have to pay if you didn't remember them.

[greensideout]

JPC, for the most part you covered the Corpsman thing well---nobody jacks with a Corpsman around Marines. If the Corpsman doesn't kick thier butt the Marines will. I will never forget the Corpsman that served with us in Nam. God bless 'em!

By the way, how about including a 193XXXX in the Nam time frame. ;)

[JP YH08]

How about including 2390XXXX.........

And remember we that crewed Helo'shad flying "Doc's"

Semper Fidelis !!!!!!!!! Jimmy

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by greensideout
By the way, how about including a 193XXXX in the Nam time frame. ;)

Hell, I didn't think there was anyone that old left! :-) You must have been with Smedley Butler? By the way, I did wish you happy Birthday did I not?

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by JP YH08
How about including 2390XXXX.........

And remember we that crewed Helo'shad flying "Doc's"

Semper Fidelis !!!!!!!!! Jimmy

239's! Hell, we sure used up a lot of Marines by the 1970's, didn't we? That is almost 300,000 Marines from when I went in in 64. I really didn't think that we used that many, truthfully!

I apologize for the omission.

[greensideout]

Originally posted by Joseph P Carey


Hell, I didn't think there was anyone that old left! :-) You must have been with Smedley Butler? By the way, I did wish you happy Birthday did I not?

Yes you did, thanks Marine. SmedleyButler? Na, not that old. LOL

[cockscap70]

Gentlemen, Got into training Corpsmen for the FMF after a stint in Okinawa. Got to Field Medical Service School after talking with a Gunnery Sergeant who told me to who, what and where I was going, and what I would actually be doing. I told the Gunny that I had never instructed in my life, and could the Marine Corps find something better for me to do? Marine, he said, This is something better. You would be surprised that not a lot of Marines know what a Corpsman goes through to be trained to allow him to go to the Fleet Marine Force. Not one Corpsman will be allowed a platoon having not been through Field Medical School, including Senior Chiefs, and Master Chiefs. Medical training is provided by FMF Corpsmen who have been assigned and been with Marines in that billet, all Military training is provided by Marines. Every Corpsman that I know of, knows what the accordion affect is when traveling by route step. God loves every Marine, and he loves his Corpsmen more... because they save Marines lives, and are not afraid to do it. Semper Fi, Dale

[BigPhil]

T

[BigPhil]

I hit the wrong key. Their is a lot of us old Marines that thank

God for the Corpsman we had in Nam.

How about a 192XXXX.

Semper Fi. Phil

[Joseph P Carey]

Damn! 192, They sent Marines to Vietnam while on Social Security too? :-) I am only kidding! Even in Vietnam, at 18 years old, I was one of the youngest members of the Company in 65. Hell, I was a 19 year old Corporal, and up for Sergeant when I was last wounded. Rank was too fast! When we started getting some draftees in the line companies, I felt even more like a kid, age wise, but I was much older than them in many ways.

[K-Bay Jim]

Every Marine has seen the Iwo Jima Memorial, or at least a picture of it, but how many
know that one of the flag raisers was a Navy corpsman? John Bradley, who was awarded
the Navy Cross for gallantry for saving the lives of many Marines is in the middle of that
famous photo. His son, James Bradley wrote "Flags of our Fathers", the best book I've ever
read about Iwo. Does a 217 service number make me over the hill?:marine:

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by K-Bay Jim
Every Marine has seen the Iwo Jima Memorial, or at least a picture of it, but how many know that one of the flag raisers was a Navy corpsman? John Bradley, who was awarded the Navy Cross for gallantry for saving the lives of many Marines is in the middle of that famous photo. His son, James Bradley wrote "Flags of our Fathers", the best book I've ever read about Iwo. Does a 217 service number make me over the hill?:marine:

217? No! That does not make you over the hill. It makes you 'Boot' to me, just like I am 'Boot' to all of these other 'Old Timers' here in the 190's! :-) I am glad someone is.

As far as the Corpsman on Mount Surabachi, that was in Marine Corps History at PI. Maybe, some of these kids did not pay attention, but I did! The Corpsman is an important part of Marine Corps History. God bless the Doc!

[Ed Palmer]

How about a 1583xxx

[Old Marine]

Originally posted by Joseph P Carey


Hell, I didn't think there was anyone that old left! :-) You must have been with Smedley Butler? By the way, I did wish you happy Birthday did I not?

Mine was 141XXXX, and I wasn't with Smedley Butler. I did however pull Mess Duty at the Last Supper.

[Osotogary]

Old Marine-
Would it be sacrilegious if I did a cartoon about that?

[Joseph P Carey]

Ed and Old Marine,

I will bet both of your original inspections failed for 'Irish Pendants' that were animal hairs on your rawhide belts that carried your Marine Corps issued 'Battle Ax'. Yes, I can just see you guys marching around the cave in your 'Dress Saber-tooth's' screaming at the top of your lungs, " This is my spear, and this is my dong! This is for fighting, and this is for..." :-)

141 and 158? Both of you guys are still the quickest minds on the boards, and I hope you will be for many more years to come.

[Ed Palmer]

Originally posted by Joseph P Carey
Ed and Old Marine,

, " This is my spear, and this is my dong! This is for fighting, and this is for..." :-)

.
This is for throwing and THIS IS FOR FUN
And dont you fxking forget it

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by Ed Palmer

This is for throwing and THIS IS FOR FUN
And dont you fxking forget it
Actually, I was thinking, "This is for throwing and this is NOT.." :-)

[thdron]

The Corpmen in Nam were Navy attached to Marine Div...and on. Corpmen continue to train with the Corp today as well. Sometimes along with those regarded as green Marines who are the only others allowed to wear the uniform officially.

Ron

[semperfiman]

Corpsmen are now allowed to join the Marine Corps league

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by semperfiman
Corpsmen are now allowed to join the Marine Corps league

Truthfully, If that were so, that is something that should be remedied, because without those FMF Corpsmen, many of those blowhards on the rules committee would not be here today. They (Corpsmen) have been with the Marines for 107 years, they wear the uniform of the Corps in the FMF, they take the same bullets that the Marines take (Even more when they are protecting a Marine from further injury), and in all too many cases, they have the heart of a Marine.

But, as far as I know, in most detachments, FMF Corpsmen with 90 days FMF service, or wounds received in services to the FMF, are allowed to join the MCL, if not them who better?

[Old Marine]

Originally posted by Osotogary
Old Marine-
Would it be sacrilegious if I did a cartoon about that?

Go for it Gary.

[Old Marine]

Originally posted by Joseph P Carey
Ed and Old Marine,

I will bet both of your original inspections failed for 'Irish Pendants' that were animal hairs on your rawhide belts that carried your Marine Corps issued 'Battle Ax'. Yes, I can just see you guys marching around the cave in your 'Dress Saber-tooth's' screaming at the top of your lungs, " This is my spear, and this is my dong! This is for fighting, and this is for..." :-)

141 and 158? Both of you guys are still the quickest minds on the boards, and I hope you will be for many more years to come.

You have to remember Joe, that back then we wore the old horsehair uniforms and didn't have "Irish Pendants". We called them ropes.

Prior to my mess duty, I was on Light Switch Duty and when the Lord said "Let there be Light", I threw the switch.

[Joseph P Carey]

Well, at least I know who had the duty when the 'old man' rested on the seventh day! I bet you can still come up with a good 'chipped saurus on toast' for the troops' morning meal. I can't quite remember, but were C-rations called 'jerky' back then?

I was issued that 'horse hair' great coat, and uniform, along with the brown street grabbers, and Boonie Boots, and brown EGAs for the Lapels, all leather was still brown. The first thing we had to do was color everything black that was brown, but the crayons they gave us youngsters were terrible. :-)

[thdron]

I'm betting you would probably agree it's about time. I was sewed on under fire and am very grateful to all Corpmen. Not yet any female yet are there?
Thanks fpr the reply
sniper1

[marine6674]

jay2120
As far as am concered a Corpman (Doc ) is a MARINE.
a lot of MARINES would not be here today if not for them. take care of your Corpman and he will take care of you. a lot of corpman got killed in NAM taking care of their MARINES.

thank GOD for the CORPMAN who take care of the MARINES.

[Joseph P Carey]

Originally posted by Joseph P Carey


Truthfully, If that were so, that is something that should be remedied...

Please excuse my typo! I wrote the above in a former message on this thread, this should read, "Truthfully, If it were NOT so, that is something that should be remedied..."

[cockscap70]

Trained Navy Corpsmen at Camp Pendleton/Del Mar. To my knowledge Corpsmen are being trained there to this day. To the training area go through the Main Gate, travel a mile or so and on the right you will find the Training area for Field Medical Service School. Took some time a few years ago to return to Field Med. It was like being on leave for 27 years, and returning home. Almost like this 'ol Marine had just left it, except for a few training aids that had been added. There are no, (I say again),no Navy personnel who can call themselves Corpsmen, and or wear the Marine Corps uniform without being trained by Marines, and Navy Corpsmen at one of the Field Medical Service Schools. Find a Corpsman who doesn't like Marines, and I will find you an Army medic who doesn't know anything about the Army. You will still find Corpsmen who are now in most Veteran's facilities that still like being singled out by being called "Doc". Their lot in life might not seem heroic to some who never knew them, but you will find them everywhere. Some with an end of tour award, others with medals that most Marines will never achieve, but rest assured there have been many Navy Corpsmen who went through a Field Medical Service School who earned the Medal of Honor. As for the Marine at the Main Gate at Camp Pendleton who didn't know anything about a Field Medical Service School? Well, Marines... once this jarhead didn't either. Guess what though? Damn sure found out! Thanks gunny wherever you are for sending me to be an instructor at Field Med after Okinawa, even though I was a reluctant Sergeant. I say again... only Fleet Marine Force Corpsmen are allowed, and Marines are honored to have...Navy Corpsmen wear the Marine Corps Uniform. Semper Fi Marines, Get some Navy... Dale

[sherpa]

FYI In my outfit in Nam our Corpsmen weren't allowed to buy a beer. If one reached for his wallet he'd be shouted down and several Marines would be vying for the honor of paying for Doc's beer. It was small recognition for the services these guys performed. And further, some of these guys were "volunteered" for the FMF when things started heating up in '68. The few that I met didn't regret it though.

In memory of Doc Caldwell who died in Nam at the end of his tour from one of those whacky jungle fevers.

Sherpa

[DBROWN72848]

If it weren't for 1 quick corpsman,i would not be here today.

[firefox2]

:evilgrin: i was in vietnam in 1965 and 1966, mos 0351 and our medics were navy and wore the same jungle clothes as we did.navy has always provided medics in the feild and medical needs to the marines now before ww11 i can't say.

[firefox2]

hello nam vet67, mos 0351 Lco 3bn 3rd marines nam in 1965 and 1966, was always navy coreman with us in the field, actually i'am interested what is taught in boot camp about certain operations in vietnam such as harvest moon, starlight, golden fleece etc. any young marines just out of boot camp sound off.

sgt rick thornell vietnam combat vet dadeville,alabama

rick_thor2001@yahoo.com

[Dryoo7]

I had a mos of 0811. In 62 I was in Gitmo Bay during the crisis with B-4-11 1st Mar Div. and later with A-1-12th Marines 3rd. Mar. Div. in Okin. and then in Da Nang in 65. Always was proud to be a 105 mm cannoner. Still am, even though they don't use that type of artilery any more. You 08's out there, hold your heads up, when the grunts need you they are really happy to see you show up.
Hardway Chuck

[junker316]

I have never met a Corpsman that I didn't concider a Marine. They are hard as steele and have proven themselves through everything that we faced. There is no way we could have made it through without them. My Uncle Steve who served in the Corps had told me that, he would look at this site since he lost touch with many of his old brothers, Even back in 1969 - 1972 that the Corpsman were not just part of the Marine Corps but Marines in body, heart, and soul.

[ridingcrops]

I've run into a lot of "Marine corpsmen" recently. Seems like they all were in the Corps but don't know anything about the Marines.
A lot are just wanna bes who think they can pull it off by saying they were corpmen. As another poster said we highly respected the Docs and they would do whatever they had to helping wounded if not actually risking their lives.
A big Semper Fi to them.

[BOOGIEMAN44]

I Thank All Who Came Be For Me, Went With Me And Those Who Came After Me. What Can Any One Say About The Navy Corpsman But You Gotta Love Them, There Always There To Patch Your But Up.

[ed kostiuk]

Actually the Navy Corpsman pre-dates all of us. During WW II they served right beside my Uncle an Island Hopper from Okinawa to Iwo Jima and all the small islands in between.

During the Korean conflict, many of my training NCO/SNCO were combat veterans from that era and told me the stories of Navy Corpsman who sacrificed so much to bring them home alive.

My generation saw many of them die right along side our buddies in Vietnam. These gents were brave and never flinched during their struggles to rescue us. Under intense enemy fire these “fellow Marines” would crawl out from a protected area to grab a wounded Marine and drag him to safety.

As a young enlisted Marine I would witness the Navy Corpsman get a standing ovation during our Birthday Ball when they were introduced. Mostly the older Marines (the Korean Vets) remembered how they saved their ass during intense firefights. Many of us during the later part of Vietnam also would “applaud” those gentlemen for their courage under fire.

During the early to mid 80’s the standing ovation’s ceased since most of the Corps was made up of Non-Combat veterans. Again, we saw their heroism during the 1st Gulf War and it brought back the faith that many us remember from Vietnam.

The Navy Corpsman continue to play a vital role in the Marine Corps and when you see one please remember they have saved many a Marines Ass over the years.

While I have the floor I would like to say a special prayer to all the WW II vets whom I had the honor of serving under. As Marines you should also remember the “forgotten War” (Korea) Marines. Recently I have received e-mails to attend more and more of their funerals. Some of my Vietnam piers are now starting to pay the ultimate price as well. You young Marines have a tradition and honor to uphold and I would ask you continue to do the work of US Marines.

As you get older you will realize what a true honor it really is to serve in the Corps. If God would grant me one more life, I would be at that recruiter’s office all over again. Two years ago Gunnery Sergeant Britton died of cancer…he was one hell of a Recruiter and one man I will never forget.

In response to your e-mail coming home from Vietnam...it was bad but we held our heads up like true Marines. They refused to rent apartments to us, refused to serve us beer at the local water hole…when I went to purchase my motorcycle they refused to wait on me....but we never showed how much it hurt…..we held our head-up, puffed out our chest with those combat medals and acted like Marines who wore that uniform with pride.

NEVER call a Navy Corpsman a wanna-be to my face. Every combat veteran owes a them total respect.

SEMPER FI

[firefox2]

we are and will always be a marine and we have what no one can ever enjoy we are brothers of an elite force best of the best and no one can take that from us.
i miss my brothers wish i could find them and say hello and lets just spend some time together now and reflect on how great it is to be here and give a prayer to the ones we knew that is not,and will always be remembered in our hearts.
if you was there with me please call check my profile and god bless all of yous and semper fi.
rick