I was an early Vietnam Marine (’65-’65). I was a Combat Engineer and worked out of Carmon Bay. To this day I have disagreements with people about Navy Corpsman.
Here is the way I explain it and when they hear this they say no more. The only difference between a Corpsman and a Marine is they wore Navy Rank on a Marine uniform. As far as Marines went they were part of us. They deserve all the honor that goes to the Marines. They fought alongside of Marines, they died with Marines. They are, as far as I am concerned, Marines.
Cpl. E. Morris
11th Engineers TAD
59 comments
“We are the Few and the Proud”. Without our Corpsmen, we would be a lot fewer. I aught to know. I was in Korea from October 1950 to March 1952. My unit is the only unit that I know of the received the Army Unit Citation for action during the winter of 1950.
God created Corpsmen so that Marines would have someone to look up to.
There would be alot of dead Marines if it wasn’t for the Corpsmen. They start out Navy but after Corpsmen school they train in Marine Corps tactics to live and fight with their Marines. They are Marines!
The Devil Docs stopped the bleeding, kept the air flowing and treated the shock for me twice in I Corps 67-68
I have always said the quickest way to start a brawl was to screw with a Marine’s Corpman. Corpmen are special people, especially to Marines. God bless them all.
There was a Corpsman named Doc Deneza at 2/1 in 1970 that everyone admired, sure hope he is still with us and enjoyed a good life!
Where the f*ck is Carmon Bay and Camp Lagune
Right On. Marines ’67-’70 Chu Lai ’68-’69
Hell yes they are MARINES ! They saved my life after losing my right are / foot in Aug.1965 E 2/9 .
In reply to Sgt. Vern Bendsen.
The Navy Corps knew their job and did it well. We considered them part of our platoon. The 4th Marine Regiment received the Army Unit Citation for the defense of Corregidor during WW II. I wasn’t there but I served in the 4th Regiment in 1961-63.
TOTALLY AGREE WITH EVERYONE’S COMMENTS—CORPSMEN ARE MARINES !!!!!!! WE HAVE A V-WAR CORPSMAN, AS A MEMBER OF OUR LOCAL “SEMPER FI” SUPPORT GROUP & HE RECEIVES THE SAME LEVEL OF LOVE, RESPECT, COURTESY, & ATTENTION, THAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES. HE FREQUENTLY WEARS A REALLY NICE COVER, THAT SAYS—“USMC CORPSMAN”. NOT A SINGLE MENTION OF THE WORD “NAVY” ANYWHERE. YES, EVERYONE KNOWS WERE HE WAS TRAINED, BUT HE IS STILL A JARHEAD / LEATHER-NECK / DEVIL-DOG-DOC——-PERIOD !!!!!!! OOORAH & SEMPER FI ………MICHAEL S. WHITLOCK (SEMPER FI VOLUNTEER & HON. E-1) MOS#0000, SEALY, TX. 77474
I agree with Cpl. Morris, I have great respect for the Navy Corpsman. Served in VN 1965 to 1966. I was aided by a Corpsman while on a Recon patrol south of Danang. These men were always by our side fighting and giving us aid when required.
I have seen Corpsman’s go where no other medic would go without regard to their own safety to bring a wounded Marine back to his unit HURAHHH and SEMPER FI
Amen to that!
I don’t care what you were, Engr., Mortorman, Scout, riflemen, Motor T…..or Corpsman. A Marine s a Marine and a Corpsman is a Marine! There is no argument…..they come to us at the most crucial time….combat!
As a young lieutenant the two people you quickly learned to take especially good care of were your radioman and your corpsman. I never thought of my “Doc” as anything other than a brother Marine.