Like all Corpsman, I started at Navy Boot Camp, 1980. Over the next seven years, I was with the Blue Side. But in 1987, the Navy saw fit to train me “Green”. Despite graduating from Field Medical Service School in December of 1987, I didn’t “get it” until February 1988. I was assigned to the Northern Training Area, Okinawa. Within two weeks, the Marines signed me up for Rappel Master Training. Never having Rappelled before, I was “unsure”. When it became my turn to do the slack-jump off the helo-simulator on the cliff, I panicked. The thought of having to slack jump out of an actual helo the following day pushed me over the edge. I walked off the obstacle, not realizing what the repercussions would be. For the next three months, I was piranha. A non-being. At a command of less than 40 personnel, isolated in the Okinawa jungle, I was in hell, branded a coward. After a month of being cut off from everyone at NTA, I was begging the senior Corpsman for a transfer. He said it was impossible. “What else can I do?” He said, “earn back their respect.” For the next two months, I stayed in the bush. If there was a training op, I stayed out there, night and day. I didn’t expect to be acknowledged by the NTA Marines. And I wasn’t. Then one day, three months after my mistake on the cliff, I was making my way across the Commando Crawl obstacle. Halfway across the Shanghai River, I spoke to the Chief Instructor on the far side of the cliff, “I can’t take back what I did that day on the cliff Staff Sgt. But given these past two months, I wish I had done the slack jump. If the rope had snapped, I would have been better off than I am now.” As I came off the obstacle, I went past him. He didn’t acknowledge me. I didn’t expect him to. A week later, my senior Corpman took me aside and said, “The Senior Instructor acknowleded your efforts today, saying, “At least he’s out there trying.” A couple of nights later, we were doing a night rappel into training smoke. The Rappel Master yelled out, “Navy, on rappel!” (I hadn’t heard the term “Doc” in over three months). I came off the line and couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. Then the Chief Instructor’s voice was next to me, “Now that you’ve grown a pair, put in another request for enrollment. I’m not saying it will be accepted. It’s never been done before.” And he was gone. The next morning, he walked into his office and found my request chit with a pen, sitting on his desk. A couple of days later, the next class of Rappel Master started. When it came time for the slack-jump, I was all over the process of tying the knots. The lead instructor for the obstacle spoke to me, “I know you want to be the first one down Doc (my first time hearing that title), but I have to go first, then you.” The obstacle was being run by a student, but one of the NTA Marines took over. He grabbed me by the blouse and looked me in the eye. “Just do it. Don’t think about it.” He hit me on the helmet and I jumped. I got to the ground and every available NTA Instructor was on hand to clap me on the back and tell me, “good job, Doc!” From that moment in my life, I strived never again to bring dishonor upon myself, or upon Corpsman, or upon my Marines. When I look back, I consider that the day I was “Baptised in The Corps.”
That day guaranteed that you would never be left behind in the field of battle! Good job!
EARNED NEVER GIVEN.
Way to stick with it Doc! NTA is some tough real estate. I’m sure your persistence has stood you in good stead. Never quit and Keep Moving!
I ha very the upmost respect for our navy doc’s I even had a squid corp man save my backside while operating with 1st Force Recon on the beach Bellows air force station I was riding in the turret of a LVTP7 Amtrack the driver hit the brakes on the beach and the turret hatch latch broke resulting in me getting the hatch in the back of my helmet driving my face into the periscope the next thing I knew I was upside down in the turret an we were moving again so I climbed back up to the hatch and when the troop Commander saw my bloody face he taps the driver who slams on the brakes sending me right back down lights out in the turret I came to slightly on a huey taking me to Triple army medical center in pearl harbor where I spent a weekend with a major concussion and a dislocated neck that corp man help my head in his lap the whole ride during my medivac, and to that man I say thank you for all you did for me your definitely the best squid I’ve ever known Semper Fi to you sir
I also went to Corps school in 1980. I graduated and went straight to FMF training in South Carolina. After I graduated that, I went to aviation medicine school in Pensacola Florida, And that aviation physiology training. I served four years on the USS Midway, CV 41, and the rest of my career was attached to the green machine. I was all over this world, with the baptism of fire in Kabul. The respect I was given from day one by my Marines totally endeared them in my heart. I would have given my life for them, and they for me. I retired After 28 years, and if I could go back and do it all again now at the age of 62… You’re damn straight I would!
My beloved grandfather (Brit WW 1 vet) once told me “It’s not what you do, it’s what you overcome doing it”. Good show, Doc.
In my six years active duty, I was out of the country four of those years, including a Vietnam tour picking up a ? among others.
Our Corpsmen were always considered Honorary Marines, as they lived with us, and did exactly what we did, no exceptions.
Upon returning from Vietnam and reporting for my last tour as B Company Commander, 1st RTB, Parris Island.
Reporting in over a weekend casually attired, I met a young African American who told me he was a Lieutenant, a great guy, and I unsuccessfully tried to bring him over to B Company.
When I saw him in uniform the following week I have never seen as many heavy duty ribbons, multiple Bronze Stars, multiple Purple Hearts, all topped off with a Silver Star.
I asked him how he got these as I didn’t know who he was.
If Vietnam we all knew who the real warriors were, but had never heard of this Marine.
Turns out he earned them as a Navy Corpsman. His Marine unit was ambushed killing the Platoon Leader and Platoon Sergeant, he took over, set up a defensive perimeter, and led the fight until reinforcements arrived.
The Corps was so impressed with his leadership qualities they transferred him to the Marines with a battlefield Commission to Lieutenant. He told me the Navy dropped him from their rolls one day, the Corps picked him up the next, and he was a civilian in Nam for one day. I asked what he did that day, he said sleep.
One hell of a Man, a Corpsman, and a Marine.
Wish I had stayed in touch, I was at PI in the fall of 1970, for one year.
In my tour I always surrounded myself with the radio operator, the Doc, and a bodyguard, this gave me time to function, my senior NCO was never too close as he was second in command.
To all “ Doc’s “ Thank You for saving so many lives. SF to you all.
Too bad you don’t know this Marine name?????? Would love to know how life treated him?
Awesome story Doc! I always held the highest regard to the 8404’s on the green side, while we were force marching you guys were running up and down the line in a circle checking on the injured, while we were resting you guys were walking the line tending to our feet. Love your story, love your courage love who you are.
SemperFi Devil Doc.
2nd tk bn 70 71 72
Outstanding Doc. The Few The Proud
Of 20 years active I spent 16 either with the Marines or on their bases. Would not change a thing. Marines work hard but play harder. Once you have your Green Wings… let the good times roll. Thanks to all the Marines I spent time with and with all respect to all the green Docs.