What do Marines think of Corpsmen?

SSgt Terry P. — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:15:53 -0400

Corpsman are about as close to Marines as one can get
Ask almost any Marine who has been in combat what the phrase “Corpsman up!” means and he'll tell you it's a cry for what the Marine Corps calls the “angels in green.” These are U.S. Navy hospital corpsman specially trained for combat medicine.
While i can relate to the Navy Corpsman,i am sure the same camaraderie is felt between the Army and their Combat Medics.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Apr 12 at 2016 2:16 PM

SSgt Terry P. — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:16:39 -0400

IMO--exceptional individuals.
Semper Fi "Doc"

Response by TSgt David L. made Apr 12 at 2016 2:17 PM

TSgt David L. — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:17:11 -0400

I've heard the Marines treat their Corpsman like one of their own. And for good reason.

Response by LCpl Tad Cunningham made Apr 12 at 2016 2:23 PM

LCpl Tad Cunningham — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:23:42 -0400

We love our docs. Green side corpsman at least, we treat them like any other Marine.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2016 2:23 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:23:45 -0400

Corpmen are one of us. They wear our uniforms, come to family reunions (morning formations) and stand watch with us.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2016 3:06 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 15:06:22 -0400

Corpsman (Doc) go through the same hardships that we do. They are Marines as far as I am concerned.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 12 at 2016 3:07 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 15:07:55 -0400

Love Doc.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2016 5:12 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 17:12:59 -0400

This isn't marine specific either. It's found in the army to between the grunts and their medics.

That said I've noticed the bond is strongest with those who are within the combat arms roles and a veterans of combat. I was very fortunate as a medic not only to have good medic combat hardened NCOs to train me on what I needed to know but a PA who was relentless in testing our skills under stress. Furthermore within my platoon The PSG and PL worked with for all of our patrols. By no means would I choose a route etc; but instead called on me to aid in identifying possible sites to predesignste evac(didn't always go according to plan) allowed me even more freedom in designing and implementing our case as procedures, loads, and cross load plan etc...

I think it's a fairly deep connection and understanding between service members and medics/corpsman. the service members who've had to call medic or corpsman up and the medic/corpsman who's had to answer the call.

We are a reassurance, a peace of mind; to know if your down we're coming to pick you up.

This is why I remind people all the time to be sure to correctly feed and water your medics and give them love.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2016 6:04 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 18:04:47 -0400

8404 85-87, my guys took care of me and i took care of them, how many army combat medics know how to load a 8" howitzer and fire it, my marines taught me and let me, best days of my life

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Apr 12 at 2016 7:21 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 19:21:29 -0400

SSgt Terry P. - Devildocs are worth their weight in gold. Best keep 'em in reserve for the barfights... unless he starts it. Then, watch his platoon finish it for him. Most Marines think of them as nothing less than "one of our own" (They were just a little late to the recruiting office!)

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Apr 12 at 2016 8:01 PM

SSgt Dan Montague — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 20:01:53 -0400

A green side corpsman is a brother. He will sacrifice his life to save a Marine. In 2005 our doc was badly wounded himself. He selflessly treated all the wounded and refused treatment himself. Two Marines had horrific head injuries and loss of limb. He stuck by them and had them laughing as they waited for the helo. Weather you need him to check deez nuts, or patch someone up, there is this feeling of relief when you yell "Corpsman up!" and here he comes no matter what.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2016 3:35 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 15:35:00 -0400

Got a close friend who's a HM1 and he's been through a lot of stuff with the Marines. Great guy and happy to serve next to him for almost 2 yrs. He does prefer to be called "Doc" than "HM1"; also you get his attention faster.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 13 at 2016 9:52 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 21:52:40 -0400

Did security for the Marine Corps Ball several years ago at a Local Hotel. The Most Decorated Man I saw that night was the 2nd Class Corpsman.

Response by SPC Marcus DeMatos made Apr 15 at 2016 12:04 PM

SPC Marcus DeMatos — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 12:04:19 -0400

I remember running across some Marines one day while I was on active duty and of course some crap talk began... until one of the 0311s asked me what do you do? As soon as I said I was a Medic, all the crap talk stopped. Instead it was, you're alright Doc. Medics and Corpsmen, we always have your back.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2016 1:50 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 13:50:56 -0400

8404 all the way, fleet marine force 85-87

Response by CPO Gene Gysin made Apr 15 at 2016 9:49 PM

CPO Gene Gysin — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 21:49:54 -0400

As a Navy Chief with several shipmates in the FMF and roots in the Amphib Navy, all I can say is "God bless the Doc!"

Response by Sgt Edward Allen made Apr 19 at 2016 8:45 PM

Sgt Edward Allen — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 20:45:03 -0400

US Navy Medical Corpsmen are, by and large, extremely well respected by we Marines. In fact, we may even refer to them as Marines on occasion. They may not have gone to MCRD, but they sure as hell deserve our respect.

Response by PO3 Samuel Chamberland made May 27 at 2016 3:44 PM

PO3 Samuel Chamberland — Fri, 27 May 2016 15:44:36 -0400

HM2 (FMF) Chamberland here ive been out for about 3 years now and miss my marines more than anything to all my brothers I served with at camp Lejeune it was a privilege to be with Battalion landing team 2/2 WAR LORDS.
Semper FI

Response by Matt Moon made Mar 15 at 2018 3:52 PM

Matt Moon — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 15:52:24 -0400

I highly respect our Blue & Green Side Corpsman. Those guys will do anything for there fellow Sailors & Marines. You couldn't ask for a better friend.

Response by MSgt Steve Sweeney made Sep 12 at 2019 8:56 AM

MSgt Steve Sweeney — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 08:56:33 -0400

The best of us.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2019 10:51 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 10:51:00 -0400

Want to have a bad day? Just mess with a Corpsman in a bar full of Marines.

Response by Cpl Rose Flores Dugan made Sep 12 at 2019 12:28 PM

Cpl Rose Flores Dugan — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 12:28:31 -0400

I loved the Corpsmen. Especially when they delivered my beautiful baby boy, 29 years ago.

Response by HN Sheldon Nadler made Jan 13 at 2020 12:52 PM

HN Sheldon Nadler — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 12:52:11 -0500

As a Corpsman, I was treated very well by all my Marines. There were a few times where I had to explain that "if I catch any Marine stealing my Morphine syrettes" I would blow their heads off.

Response by Cpl Jim Tubridy made Jun 1 at 2022 11:56 AM

Cpl Jim Tubridy — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 11:56:35 -0400

Docs deserve our utmost respect!

Response by LTC Tom Jones made Jun 1 at 2022 11:03 PM

LTC Tom Jones — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 23:03:30 -0400

While standing in line at a Purple Heart Dinner in Wilmington, NC, some years ago, I tried to stir up a little conversation while we were waiting by asking some of those around me what their job had been on active duty. Several one or two syllable responses and general disinterest and even a little aggravation until one fellow came back with a simple, "I was a Navy Corpsman." Boom! That segment of the line exploded in "questions and compliments." Instant Star-Power. Never forget it.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Jun 2 at 2022 1:46 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 01:46:35 -0400

After spending time in Vietnam in 1968-69 I have the greatest of respect for the Navy Corpsmen and both Army and Air Force Medics. These are people that can and will risk their own safety to save Your life.

Response by PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln made Jun 2 at 2022 11:29 AM

PO2 Russell "Russ" Lincoln — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 11:29:07 -0400

In all my time in the service "Doc" was to be respected and if the occasion arose protected. As a Marine I would go out of my way to do whatever Doc needed. When I became an FMF Doc in my late 20s only had one big dumb Marine decide I needed to be tested by striking me any time he was able. I told him to knock it off, his response was; "Why you gonna lose my shot record!" So I told him that's for "boots", I report people dead. We were in Okinawa at the time. After he checked with the other Corpsmen weather I could or would do it. He decided that it would be in his best interest to be friendly. He spent the rest of our deployment making sure I always had something to drink and that no one was giving me problems.