Lest  the  impression  be  left  that  corpsmen distinguish themselves only in times of war and disaster,  it  should  be  added  that  their  role  in “quiet” times is equally as illustrious. They serve around the world in Navy hospitals, aboard ships and submarines, and with Marine Corps units of all Fleet Marine Forces. Often on duty indepen- dent   of   a   medical   officer,   they   bear   the   full responsibility  for  medical  care  of  their  shipmates, maintaining the health of the Navy, rendering first aid, and caring for the sick with a competence that has earned them the respect of all. Their methods of medical management are constantly reviewed and  revised  to  reflect  the  latest  technologies  in treatment.  In  addition,  since  1958,  they  have received special and intensive instruction in the management  of  the  mass  casualties  that  might follow  in  the  wake  of  a  chemical,  biological,  or radiological (CBR) warfare attack. Also, hospital corpsmen  often  have  had  opportunities  to  serve in   the   latest   scientific   projects.   For   example, Thomas  R.  Thorne,  HM3,  participated  in  Pro- ject  Mercy.  For  his  role  in  the  biomedical  sup- port of the free world’s first manned space flight, he received in June 1961 a letter of appreciation from  the  Director  of  Bioastronautics. VIETNAM  AND  THE  YEARS FOLLOWING With  the  escalation  of  the  Vietnam  conflict between 1963 and 1975, hospital corpsmen were called to serve in Southeast Asia. They served in Marine Corps and Navy air/ground forces, naval support activity hospitals (Saigon and Danang), hospital  ships  (USS  REPOSE  and  USS  SANC- TUARY),  Riverine  Warfare  (“Brown  Water Navy”),  and  Navy  ships  on  the  “Gun  Line”  off the coast of South Vietnam and “Yankee Station” off  the  coast  of  North  Vietnam.  They  served  in Cambodia and supported troops from places like the  Marine  Corps  Air  Station  (“Rose  Garden”) in  Thailand.  Like  their  predecessors,  they  per- formed emergency treatment in all kinds of com- bat   conditions.   They   were   assigned   to   small medical teams that provided care and health ad- vice to Vietnamese civilians. Some were assigned as  medical  advisors  to  Vietnamese  military  units, which  required  that  they  live  in  small,  poorly defended villages. Hospital corpsmen truely felt the  brunt  of  the  Vietnam  conflict.  Six  hundred twenty  were  killed  or  mortally  wounded  and another  3,353  were  wounded  in  action.  Awards for gallantry and intrepidity in action included 3 Medals  of  Honor,  29  Navy  Crosses,  127  Silver Stars, 2 Legions of Merit, 290 Bronze Stars, and 4,563  Purple  Hearts. HOSPITAL  CORPSMEN  TODAY Since  the  fall  of  Saigon  in  April  1975,  hospital corpsmen  continue  to  serve  in  the  many  “hot spots” around the world. Fifteen hospital corps- men  were  killed  in  the  line  of  duty  when  the Marine  Barracks  in  Beirut,  Lebanon,  was  bombed and  destroyed  by  terrorists.  Hospital  corpsmen were present at sea and ashore when the United States  took  military  action  in  Grenada. Today’s  hospital  corpsmen  perform  as  assis- tants in the prevention and treatment of disease and  injury.  They  assist  with  physical  examina- tions,  provide  patient  care,  and  administer  medici- nal. They perform general laboratory, pharmacy, and other patient support services. They assist in the  administrative,  supply,  and  accounting  pro- cedures  within  medical  departments  ashore, afloat, and with the Marine Corps. They instruct medical  and  nonmedical  personnel  in  first  aid, self-aid,  personal  hygiene,  and  medical  records maintenance. They assist in the maintenance of environmental health standards, and they are pre- pared to assist in the prevention and treatment of  CBR  casualties  and  in  the  transportation  of  the sick  and  injured.  Senior  hospital  corpsmen  per- form  technical  planning  and  management  func- tions in support of medical readiness and quality health care delivery. In addition to their general assignments,  hospital  corpsmen  trained  as  techni- cians  perform  specialized  functions  within  the operational  forces,  clinical  specialties,  and  ad- ministrative  department,  and  they  may  be  as- signed  duties  independent  of  a  medical  officer. These complex duties require that each hos- pital corpsman have broad-based training and a versatility neither demanded nor expected of other enlisted rating in the Navy. Wherever  you  find  the  Navy,  wherever  you find  the  Marine  Corps,  there  you  will  find  the Navy  hospital  corpsman.  In  times  of  peace,  he or she toils unceasingly, day and night, providing quality care to numerous beneficiaries. In times of  war,  he  is  on  the  beaches  with  the  Marines, employed in amphibious operations, in transpor- tation of wounded by air, on the battlefield, and on all types of ships, submarines, aircraft carriers, and landing craft. In short, wherever medical serv- ices  may  be  required,  the  hospital  corpsman  is there, not only willing but prepared to serve his country  and  his  fellow  man  above  and  beyond  the call  of  duty. 2-6