Comments

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  John Nicholas Wurth April 23, 2014 at 11:31pm

  Tim,
  I was there sometime in May or June of ''67 until I was ordered to the III MAR DIV in October of '67.
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  Timothy Michael Shalk April 23, 2014 at 11:07pm

  John - when you were in oakland do you remember a young LTJG Nurse named Noreen Emerson, or Linda Robson?  Both worked "dirty" ortho at Oak Knoll.
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  Timothy Michael Shalk April 23, 2014 at 11:05pm

  Steve = you were just a week or two ahead of me.  Meaning we likely crossed paths at some point.  Used to go body surfing at Del Mar Beach when on liberty. FMSS was quite an experience.  But as others have said, I learned enough to be dangerous, and it served me well going forward.  And although I was never cut out to be a grunt, I grew to respect the Corps and was proud earning my #8404 designation........It was a crazy time,.... no regrets. 

  Semper Fi

  Tim "Doc" Shalk
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  Steve Jackson April 23, 2014 at 8:53pm

  Tim

  I was there just before you, E6708 C Co, Sept 1967.
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  James A. Fairbarn April 23, 2014 at 12:59pm

  Good morning Docs! Went through FMSS at Pendleton in '65. Don't recall the class # etc. but enjoyed every minute! Went to Nam right after graduation. Served with 1st MAW, MAG-12, Chu Lai! Good to still be on the right side of the dirt! Semper Fi!   
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  John Nicholas Wurth April 23, 2014 at 12:58pm

  Timothy,

  I am not sure why they rushed us through so fast. I had to go back into my records to make sure of the time frame. Other than the humping out in the desert and the firearms practice, I didn't learn much more than I already knew from a medical standpoint. I did learn a heck of a lot about the Marines which gave me a much higher level of respect for them and their training regimen. I gained significantly more medical experience working on the " dirty ortho " ward at NH Oaknoll in Oakland, CA. which helped me in dealing with traumatic injuries during my tour in Vietnam.

  We as Corpsman always wanted to give the best medical care possible for our Marine charges. You know, it was more than the " do no harm " credo. But I always felt in someway inadequate, as if I could have or should have been able to do more. I guess that is how many Doctors feel when they lose a patient.The there is the " survivor guilt " thing. It took me a long time to come to terms with that. My Skipper, Capt. Sheib, told me at one of our reunions that it was the " luck of the draw "...of not being at the wrong place at the wrong time. " PD the MD who cures VD " Doc Reineger put it another way. He claims it is " all about the karma "!

  Semper Fi Brother,

  John
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  Timothy Michael Shalk April 23, 2014 at 12:14pm

  John...you had a very short class.......we were there from September till mid November ( at least 10 weeks ) ...... also 1967....class  E-6709 Delta Co.
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  John Nicholas Wurth April 23, 2014 at 11:20am

  I went through FMSS from Jan 2, 1967 to Feb 2, 1967. I believe our class number was #6701. Anyone out there from that class?
  Doc Wurth
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  Robert Gregory Baker April 23, 2014 at 9:38am

  I went through in Jan and Feb. of 1982 .....haven't seen any one on here in that time period yet 
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  Timothy Michael Shalk April 23, 2014 at 9:18am

  I was right behind you Bob - Pendleton.......September-November 1967