What is a Doc

[combatdoc]

THE HOSPITAL

CORPSMAN

I AM A NAVY CORPSMAN. I POSESS THE STAMINA AND ENTHUSIASM OF YOUTH AND
THE
WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE OF AN OLD MAN. I AM THREE PARTS DOCTOR, ONE PART
NURSE, TWO PARTS MARINE, ONE PART CLERGYMAN, AND TWO PARTS MOM; YET I
AM ONE
HUNDRED PERCENT SAILOR.

I AM UNEMPLOYABLE TO THE CIVILLIAN WORLD IN MY CHOSEN PROFESSION, YET
HAVE
BEEN THE VERY LIFELINE FOR COUNTLESS MARINES, SAILORS, AND SOLDIERS
SINCE
1778.

I HAVE CARRIED MARINES FROM THE BATTLEFIELD AND HAVE BEEN REVERENTLY
CARRIED
MYSELF BY MARINES WHO HAVE MOURNED MY PASSING LIKE THAT OF A BROTHER OR
SISTER.

I AM YOUNG, I AM OLD, I AM BRAVE, SCARED, AND SCARRED. MY TITLE HAS
CHANGED
OVER THE YEARS: LOBLOLLY BOY, SURGEONS STEWARD, PHARMACISTS MATE, AND
HOSPITAL CORPSMAN. YET WITH ALL THE CHANGES, I AM SIMPLY KNOWN AS
"DOC."

I HAVE CELEBRATED PEACE, YET FELT THE STING OF WAR ON THE SEAS, IN
JUNGLES,
DESERTS, CITIES, WASHINGTON D.C., AND ON BEACHES OF EVERY SHADE OF
SAND:
WHITE, TAN, CORAL, AND BLACK.

I HAVE RAISED HELL ON LIBERTY, HOPE IN THE MIDST OF BATTLE, AND A FLAG
ON
IWO JIMA. WHEREVER MY MARINES HAVE GONE, OLD DOC HAS GONE WITH THEM:
PEKING,
TRIPOLI, SAIPAN, GUADALCANAL, KOREA, VIETNAM, SOMALIA, AND IRAQ; READY
TO
ANSWER THE CALL "CORPSMAN UP!"

ON THE BATTLEFIELD OR IN THE BARRACKS, ON THE SHIP OR IN THE BAR, I
HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN THERE AND ALWAYS WILL BE. BECAUSE THE WOUNDED MARINE ONT
THE
BATTLEFIELD CALLS OUT FOR THREE THINGS: "GOD, MOM, AND DOC!" AND TO
THEM,
I'M ALL THREE.

For all the "Docs" who answered the call and made the ultimate
sacrifice...SEMPER FI!