HONOR GIVEN TO CORPSMEN AND MEDICS

[Doc_Pardue]

http://www.utah.edu/upap/news.html

This link is to the PA prgram at University in Utah. It has the dedication of a statute honoring the Vietnam Corpsmen and Medics that served.

Medics and corpsmen were heroes of their time, stepping forward to save countless lives and to minimize as much human suffering as they could, while giving of themselves totally. Their services were relevant for their time in Vietnam, just as the services of those who have followed them have been relevant in the middle east, in Africa, in the Caribbean, or wherever else our military and civilian forces have been sent. These truly were people of destiny at their time and place.
But, thankfully for us, the corpsmen and medics of Vietnam became people of destiny in helping to establish a new profession that continues to help people in so many ways today. Truly these are heroes of our time.

Doc P

[crazycajun]

Thanks for posting the link to the article. It was well worth the read. Makes me proud to serve as a Hospital Corpsman and be involved with Military Medicine.

[Doc_Pardue]

There is a short viedo of the dedication. I wish I had found out about the PA program as I would have gone to it rather than become a cop. I hope that the corpsmen of today will look at this program after they get out of the service. I am older than dirt right now so I will just enjoy my retirement. Not sure if any of the students will relate to this but when I went into the Army as a E-1 I made $91.00 a month. When I was an E-5 I was making $313.00 a month. I did get combat pay of $65.00 a month while in Vietnam.

http://www.utah.edu/upap/medic_video.html (http://www.utah.edu/upap/medic_video.html) short video







( I am the guy on the front left.)

[Da-Chief]

When I joined, I got 313 as a E-3 on the 1st and the 30th of each month.. things have indeed changed..

[Doc_Pardue]

In 1969 I brought a brand new 1968 GTO for $4200 payment was $85 month. I brought my first house in Sauk Village, Ill for $18,500 and payment was $151 a month. Gas was 30 cents a gallon, milk 78 cents a gallon, ground beef was 50 a lb, whole chicken was 2.00, can goods were 10 cents a can. Cigarettes were $2.50 a carton, beer for 6 pack was 1.25. Drive in movies were $1 per adult and 50 cents for each child. We used to put them in the trunk until we go in. Popcorn was 1 dollar, drinks were 20 cents. McDonalds was cheap to eat at you got a hamburger, fry, and drink for 45 cents.

My pay when I got out of the army in 1970 was $7500 a year as a cop in Sauk Village, Ill. I went to the local hospital in Chicago Heights, Ill and applied for a job. I told them I could suture, and give shots, and run their emergency room. She asked me where I had gone to nursing school or medical school. When I told her the army she laughed and said son, we can't let you suture civilians, give shots to civilians, or touch a patient in the emergency room. I asked her what job could I get at her hospital and she told me I could be an orderly emptying bed pans. I did an about face and left. I didn't find out about the PA program until eht early 1990's. Too bad, as I loved working in the medical field.

After I got married wifes did not get an alllotment back then. So at the end of the month the mess sgt. would give the families with children a case of c rations so that they could feed the kids, I remember fighting over a can of beans and franks with my then 4 year old daughter. We were all too proud to apply for food stamps. Sometimes I thought I was some fat cat, after I got out of the army.

Doc P