For those Navy Hospital Corpsmen who served in the United States Navy and/or the United States Marine Corps.

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  • Rick you were a couple of months ahead of me. I didn't graduate corps school till the end of Feb, 73. Company 25A. We were in the barracks next to the hospital that looked out over the dirt landing pad and supply buildings at the bottom of the hill. It was kind of funny how we went from the planes taking off over our heads at NTC to them coming in over our heads at Balboa! No wonder I always had a headache!
  • Jim,  Wish I could remember what company HM "A" school.  I too went to San Diego.  Graduated 12/20/1972 (that I remember).  My barracks was at the top of the hill straight up from the Enlisted club; right in the flight path for San Diego airport.  I did a split tour 72-74, got out and became a paramedic in FL, went back in November of 83 to the USS Iwo Jima (LPH2) then to Newport, RI doing Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Safety.  20 yrs as a firefighter/paramedic in FL retiring as a Division Chief and now work for the Federal Govt.  Again. 
  • I went to Corp School in Great Lakes, from there I stayed at the Great Lakes Hospital for awhile before volunteering for sea duty.   I served on board the USS Shasta (AE-33) in 1979.  I also was at Oakland NRMC,  and many other places for short duty stays.   
  • Hey Lupetti! You finally found this command! Welcome aboard brother! There are several FMF alumni in here! The only other Chelsea alumni so far is Minot.
  • Alright now, that wasn't a "4 letter" word! That was his name! "Richard (Dick) Winters! There are a few tweaks still needed on this site Doug!
  • In the process of making new and renewed connections, I keep learning new things. One of which is something I never knew about our Master Chief back in 73 at the Chelsea Naval Hospital. I discovered this listing:

    "Master Chief Wentzel  Navy served with 2nd and 3rd Battalion 11 Marines in Chu Li, Vietnam from February 1966 to April 1967.  On one occasion Master Chief Wentzel entered a mine field to treat five marines and two Navy Hospital Corpsmen who were injured in the mine field."

    It brought to mind something I heard the real "D*** Winters" say in the mini-series "Band of Brothers". "I am not a hero. But, I served in the company of heroes" That is something that most of us can adopt!

    The Chief is still alive and well! He still works full time and is involved in all kinds of community activities including emergency management! Had he not survived the above action, I know he would have received the MOH! Instead he is what most real heroes are, quiet and modest about their service and experiences!

  • Thanks Will! I am sure the guy I knew that had it on his utility shirt probably had it made as well. When you think about it, official inspections were rarely ever conducted while in utilities.

    We are writing up the guidelines for the utility uniforms for the veteran crews on museum ships. I think that is one place we are going to depart from the old regs. By having the utility patches made "with" the specialty rates on them, it will help keep them alive and allow the vets to display what they did!

  • In response to Jim Decota's question: I remember buying my utility patch's with a caduceus from a street vender in Yokosuka, Japan.  Not legal for official inspections but just fine for daily shipbourd use. 

     

  • I was a quad 0, not an 8404, but spent my share of time with MARDIVs in FL and my Reserve Centers in WI.
  • It just dawned on me, again, that Doc Alexander created this command for FMF corpsmen. Maybe he should amend the description. Either that or a number of us may have to transfer out!
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Hats Off to All my fellow Corpsman!

This is my first day on here and I am so pleased and proud to find it.I spent my time 1969-1974 active, from Orlando Boot to San Diego Corps School, CHELSEA Naval Hospital, Senior Corpsman of Ward 14, Dirty Orthopedics and then Camp Lenjeune 2nd Amtracs, Force Troops, Camp Lejeune.Have been in healthcare ever since as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. I gave my first breathing treatment in 1970......Thank you All for your Service!!!Curt Hiller, HM3

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navy hospital corpsmen

may 31 1956 was the day i graduated from hospital corps school great lakes. spent 18 months at the philly naval hospital working on locked ward t-18. gave electric shock treatments 3 times a week. went to argentia newfoundland, naval air station base hospital from 1958 thru 1959. best years of my life.

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Fleet Marine Force Service medal/ribbon

The Navy has yet to recognize the FMF service of thousands of Grunt Docs who have served side by side with the Marines for generations. In 1984 then Navy Secretary Lehman came out with an FMF ribbon but only for FMF service after 1984.The Navy should either recognize all of us Grunt Docs or none at all; choosing only those whose FMF service was post 1984 is a slap in the face to PRE-1984 FMF Hospital Corpsmen.FMF Ribbon service post 1984.gif

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