By: Christopher S. Barker III
I was an 8404 FMF Hospital Corpsman 1965-68. I was recently informed that the term “Hospital Corpsman” is SEXIST. The Navy’s new gender neutral title is “Medical Service Technician”. I say “F#%& that”! I was, am, and always will be a Hospital Corpsman. This P.C. excrement is beginning to really stink!
16 comments
There’s been such backlash against dickin’ around with Navy rating names that y’all can rest easy about that medical services tech BS, according to the USNI site in Dec. 2016. See the article at https://news.usni.org/2016/12/20/navy-restore-enlisted-rating-titles-months-criticism
To MSGT Herbert Shaw, that wasn’t an error “auto-correct” that was a “Freudian slip”,. From the looks of his “backyard” he looks like he intends to do a lot of fishing. While at Le Jeune in the H & S Btry !0th Marines we had a Gunny Sgt who in the afternoon would announce his intention to check ” X ” , Sorry but after 60 years it slips my mind the exact name he used but we all knew that that was the name of a United States Coastal and Geodetic Survey Monument located just off the highway bridge out the back gate at Snead’s Ferry. Or in other words, “I done for the day and going fishing”. .
Does anybody believe that this has NOTHING to do with the Commander-in-Chief’s, who will remain anonymous, use of the pronunciation of “Corpseman” ???!!! That sounds like somebody in “Graves Registration”.
Once an FMF Corpsman always an FMF Corpsman. I will be a Corpsman for life. Screw the Navy, Corpsman comes from the title U S Navy Hospital Corps. Did they change that name also?? And thanks to all the Marines who agree with us and for me it was a pleasure to severe with the best.
Thanks for all the kind and complimentary comments.
Like I said about 6 months ago when a Navy Corpsman was awarded the MOH for repeadily saving wounded Marines In Afganistan. They are the BEST MARINES the Marine Corp has. Some idiot wrote back and said the Corpsman was a Navy personnel. Yes they are Navy, but never tell a Marine who has been in combat, wounded and has been arrended to or saved by a Marine Corpsman that he isn’t a Marine. My best friend was a Corpdmsn and was killed in the battle of Hue City.
Our Doc’s were the best. In fact we took better care of them then we did of our Chaplin or his assistant. If a corpsman was swearing over you, you knew you had a chance. If the Chaplain was mumbling something over you he was trying to get you a pass through heavens gate. SEMPER Fi Doc.
You were the Bravest of the Brave. Never met any men with more OOHRAH !. I think the statement “I was never a hero, but was honored to walk next to a few” suits the “Corpsman” Perfectly. You were there for me in September of 69 and I’ll never forget. Semper Fi Always!!
Corpsman were the bravest men (yes men) to serve in the Corps. Words cannot express the thanks we had and have for these guys.Bravery is an understatement.
Curses “auto correct”! And also for hitting submit before proofreading! That was supposed to be “Semper Fidelis”.
Thanks for being there for us, Doc. I have always felt that you guys were more Marine than Navy. Many of you were combat patrol members, more than just a Corpsman. So I say to you Semper Fishing brother.
A recent article in Military.com states that SecNav Mabus wants to change Navy and Marine Corps job discriptions ( MOS ) so they will fit better when they rotate back to civilian life. As a grunt Corpsman I can identify with that attempt. However there may be a problem with some of the Marines I served with. How can they ( 0311’s ) find opportunities in the job market as trained killers. Mr Mabus simply wants to remove man or men from these discriptions to pacify the feminists and smooze those women who want to serve in combat units. I love women but there is no way they can serve in a Rifle Platoon. My suggestion to Mr Mabus is to open his dictionary and look up the origin of WOMAN. He will find that there is the word MAN and the plural is MEN in that word for a reason. ( latin;greek; womb ) If he wants to change names he should start there.
To me you were a Corpsman during 59 to 65 and you always will be and may God bless you for your service.
Hey Doc I agree with you too us Jarheads you’ll always be Doc or Corpsman.
Good attitude Corpsman……..thank you for serving with us, Semper Fi
Next time I need help, I will have to yell “Medical Service Technician!”? Doubt it. it will always be “Corpsman!!!”. From an old Grunt in Nam.