Hospital Corps Quarterly Winter 2010

13 Pages·2010·1.96 MB·English

A Publication of the Offi ce of the Force Master Chief (FORCM)
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CONTENTS

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Winter 2010
from the force’s
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A Publication of the Offi ce of the desk
Force Master Chief (FORCM)
Shipmates, 2010
Force Master Chief is an exciting and
FORCM (FMF) Laura A. Martinez rewarding time in
our history to serve as
Senior Advisor Hospital Corpsmen. As
HMCS (SW/AW) Charles R. Hickey we continue to man-
age the shore-based
Editor-in-Chief healthcare of our active
HMC (SW/AW/FMF) Scott A. Thrasher duty and eligible ben-
efi ciaries, we remain
Associate Editors embarked on overseas
HM1 (FMF) Charles R. Schaefer contingency operations
Mr. André B. Sobocinski and have Sailors de-
ployed throughout the
world providing much
needed humanitarian assistance. As I write this, more than
Any opinions expressed in the
1,500 military and civilian aid workers are providing round-the-
Hospital Corps Quarterly are
clock care aboard USNS Comfort as USS Carl Vinson and USS
those of the respective authors Bataan and a host of other ships provide both medical expertise
and continue in the provision of humanitarian assistance. Such
and do not refl ect upon the of-
efforts lend credence to the CNO’s view that humanitarian op-
fi cial policy of the U.S. Navy
erations, such as those in which we are currently embarked, are
Hospital Corps, Navy Medical in line with the execution of our maritime strategy.
The versatility of the Hospital Corpsman is unmatched in the
Department, U.S. Navy, and/or
annals of warfare. Our history is fraught with the accounts of
the Department of Defense.
heroism and virtue that have forged our identity. As we embark
upon the unprecedented integration of training that will serve
to coalesce the medical practices of all armed services, I ask
that you never forget your heritage as a Navy Hospital Corps-
man. In the coming months our fi rst students will arrive in San
Antonio, many receiving training alongside Airman, Soldiers,
and Coast Guardsmen. This is an important transformation,
helping streamline schooling in such a way that inter-service
mission commanders can rely on expertly trained healthcare
providers. This, I believe, will play to the strength of the Hos-
pital Corps, as we are already the benchmark for care across
services. Make no mistake, our emphasis has been, and always
will be, on maintaining the identity of our Hospital Corps. We
are not, nor shall we ever be, Medics, Soldiers or Airmen. We
are Sailors and United States Navy Corpsmen.
~FORCM Martinez
2 Hospital Corps Quarterly
The Impact of Tactical
Combat Care
By HMC Scott Thrasher
Issued in June 2009, BUMED- on military medicine, making TCCC the casualty, (2) Prevent additional
INST 1510.23C mandated that the first set of battlefield guidelines casualties, and (3) complete the
BSO-18 Corpsmen shall become ever to receive the dual endorsement mission. There has necessarily been
and remain proficient in Tactical of the American College of Surgeons a huge paradigm shift in treating
Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), and and the National Association of battlefield casualties. For instance,
deploying Corpsmen shall com- Emergency Medical Technicians. military trauma courses, even into
plete TCCC within 180 days prior In 2004, the Bureau of Medicine the early 1990’s, discouraged the
to an Individual Augmentation (IA) and Surgery (BUMED) sponsored used of tourniquets and supported
or Health Services Augmentation the funding and ownership of the their use only as a last resort. As
(HSAP) assignment. Such training course, noting that the committee for Dr. Butler has pointed out since he
also includes expeditionary web- TCCC should include individuals published his TCCC article, the most
based training as an adjunct to the representing all levels of combat care common cause of preventable death
TCCC course. So, why TCCC you including Corpsmen and Medics as on the battlefield was extremity
ask? The fact is that the application well as physicians. In 2007, because wound exsanguinations, responsible
of TCCC guidelines, coupled with of the integration and continuity of for 2,500 fatalities in Vietnam alone.
the most prolific evacuation transport TCCC training, oversight of TCCC TCCC continues to evolve with
in the history of armed conflict, has was placed under the auspices of the technology and best practice analy-
contributed to an unprecedented rate Defense Health Board which has its sis. The battlefield presents unique
of survival on the battlefield. own trauma subcommittee. Changes challenges in documenting the effi-
Put simply, prior to TCCC, the to TCCC now occur via the TC3 cacy of TCCC practices. In order to
military maintained a largely civil- committee, then to the Trauma Sub- overcome such obstacles, we instead
ian-centric standard of battlefield committee, and finally to the Corps gather information from published
care. Because pre-hospital trauma Board of the Defense Health board; case reports and take seriously the
care on the battlefield differs from providing at least three separate and lessons learned by first responders
that performed in the civilian sector, objective views to any proposed describing their experiences with
and because the austere environ- change. Thus, because of improved combat casualty care.
ment that surrounds armed conflict communicative technology seam- Finally, nearly as important as
further projects those differences, lessly driven from the battlefield to trained medical professionals, the de-
CAPT Frank Butler, MC, and his regulatory agencies, changes to best ployment of Combat Lifesavers, Ma-
colleagues published a supplement to practices are now fluid, rapid, and rines and Soldiers with TCCC based
Military Medicine in 19961, outlin- exceedingly effective.2 training, is an essential component
ing the concept of TCCC. Originally The primary focus of TCCC is of care on the battlefield. This
initiated as a joint effort between based on performing those interven- combination of good medicine with
the Special Operations community tions that address preventable causes good tactics and supported by faster
and the Naval Operational Medical of death on the battlefield until the CASEVAC times and enhanced pro-
Institute, TCCC has enjoyed enor- tactical situation improves enough to tective equipment has resulted in the
mous success, so much so that in support comprehensive care. Thus, highest casualty survival rate in the
1999, the Pre-hospital Trauma Life the three guiding principles support- history of United States warfare.■
Support manual included a chapter ing battlefield care are to: (1) Treat
1 Butler FK, Hagman J, Butler EG, Tactical Combat Casualty Care in Special Operations. Military Medicine.
1996: 161 (Supp) 3-16.
2 Butler FK Jr, Holcomb JB, Giebner SD, et al. Tactical combat casualty care 2007: evolving concepts and
battlefield experience. Military Medicine. 2007: 172 (Supp):1–19.
Winter 2010 3
2010 BUMED Sea & Shore Sailor
of the Year Competition
By André B. Sobocinski
T
he week of 18 January 2010
was one for the annals as
six of the best and brightest
medical Sailors in the Navy came to
Washington, DC, for the last leg of
the BUMED Sea and Shore Sailor
of the Year competition. After a
highly competitive contest culminat-
ing in a rigorous Selection Board,
two sailors—HM1 Maria Reinoso
and HM1 Oluyinka Adefison—were
awarded the top honors in a ceremo-
ny presided over by VADM Adam 2010 BUMED Sailors of the Year Candidates (L-R): HM1
M. Robinson, Jr., and FORCM Laura Maria Reinoso, HM1 Randi Acheson, HM1 Oluyinka Adefi-
Martinez, at BUMED on 21 January.
son, HM1 Jason McDonald, HM1 (FMF) Charles Schaefer,
There’s was no denying that each
and HM1 Richard Marquis.
Sailor could not have been prouder
Photograph by author
representing their commands and
regions in the hard fought contest. In addition to representing the U.S. Corpsman because they are proud to
HM1 Reinoso related that she felt Navy Medical Department, and their serve and are passionate about what
privileged to compete. “The experi- respective geographical commands, they do.
ence has been very remarkable. I the two awardees could also boast of When asked what type of advice
feel very privileged and honored to representing two foreign nations— you would give to new hospital
be able to represent my command, Nigeria and the Philippines. corpsmen, Reinoso advised that
USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and being HM1 Adefison was born in Ni- anything and everything is possible
selected as the BUMED Sea Sailor geria to a family possessing a long as long as you stay dedicated, deter-
of the Year amongst the top caliber and proud military heritage. From an mined and mentally driven toward
Sailors and finalists.” HM1 Reinoso early age, Adefison believed he too your future goals. “Always stay
represented the Sea Sailors nomi- would end up in joining the mili- driven and true to your principles,
nees, and due to the recent deploy- tary or else find employment in the and character and stay optimistic
ment of the other candidate, ET1 sciences—but in his birth nation. He when new opportunities come your
(SW) Darrell Larocque, was the only admits that when he looks back at his way. Take pride in what you do and
one present. 12-year career as a U.S. Navy Hospi- stay humble.” Undoubtedly, this is
The Shore Sailors were repre- tal Corpsman it is still a shock. sage advice for the ages.
sented by HM1 (FMF) Oluyinka HM1 Reinoso is also a 12-year HM1 Adefison and HM1 Reinoso
Adefison (National Capital Re- Navy veteran and like Adefison takes are now slated to compete in the
gion), HM1 Randi Acheson (Navy great pride in her achievements as VCNO Shore Sailor of the Year and
Medicine Support Command), HM1 a Hospital Corpsman. But like all U.S. Fleet Forces Sea Sailor of the
Richard Marquis (Navy Medicine of this year’s group of nominees, Year Semi-Finalist Administrative
East), HM1 Jason McDonald (Navy Reinoso is not one to boast of her Review, respectively. Let’s wish
Medicine West), and HM1 Charles many accomplishments. Each of the each of them luck as they represent
Schaefer (Bureau of Medicine and six candidates are soft spoken and the Navy Medical Department.■
Surgery). Each of them won top possess a quiet dignity. It is hard to
Sailors honors in their respective imagine how any one of them could
regional commands. be more humble. They are Hospital
4 Hospital Corps Quarterly
M E D SAILORS OF
U T
B H
E

0
1 Y
0 E
A
2
R

Photographs by Ms. Rebecca Roseescue
BZ: Sailors of the Year
HM3 Maya Byers HM1 (SW/AW)
HM3 Byars reported to John A. McGilvery
USS Theodore Roosevelt HM1 McGilvery was recent-
(CVN-71) in September ly selected as USS Dwight
2007. She participated in D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)
many evolutions leading to 2009 SENIOR SAILOR OF
USS Theodore Roosevelt THE YEAR. Additionally,
most recent deployment he was selected as one of
in support of Operation fi ve candidates to compete
Enduring Freedom. As for AIRLANT Sailor of the
a member of the Com- Year.
mand Honor Guard, she
displayed superior mili-
tary bearing and provided
junior Sailors someone
to emulate. Petty Offi cer
Byars’s sustained superior performance and unrelenting
focus on the mission, earned her selection as USS Theodore
Roosevelt 2009 JUNIOR SAILOR OF THE YEAR.
Winter 2010 5
MARSOC corpsman receives
Silver Star for heroics in
Afghanistan

By CPL Richard Blumenstein
2. The forward vehicle of the team
U
S encountered a cave system with two
M
C abandoned cars parked in front.
P
ho The team’s vehicles spread out inside
to
b the draw. The team dismounted from
y
A their vehicles and used their standard
u
tho operating procedures to insure the
r
vehicles were not rigged to explode;
they were not, according to Torrisi,
who was with MSOT 2.
That’s when two “ranging shots”
gave way to a hail of gunfire that
literally seemed to rain down on the
team’s position, according to Torrisi.
MGEN Paul E. Lefebvre, the commander of USMC Special Opera- “I’ve never heard gunfire like that
tions Command, presents HMC Jeremy Torrisi a Silver Star on 21 before,” Torrisi said. “It was like
January 2010. four or five guys just depressing on
a Ma Duce (M2.50 caliber machine
gun) at once.”
“You hear your buddies the story that went down that day The bullets shot into the antennas,
go down …You close it wasn’t one person, it wasn’t two, doors, windows, gun turrets, ve-
your eyes… You think it wasn’t three, it was everybody,” hicles, engine blocks, and tires.
about everything … You hear you’re Torrisi said during the award cer- “In the first four to five minutes
the only other Corpsman. What emony. “Everybody doing their part. we received roughly four to five
would you do?” We have a lot of guys around today casualties,” Torrisi said.
Chief Petty Officer Jeremy K. Tor- walking, talking, and breathing Among them was SGT Samuel E.
risi, a hospital corpsman with U.S. because of that. I was just part of the Schoenheit, an operator with MAR-
Marine Corps Forces, Special Opera- well-oiled machine that we were.” SOC and now a staff sergeant.
tions Command, faced that question Schoenheit and SGT Carlos Bolanos,
on 26 June 2008 in the mountains The Battle the MSOT 1 communications chief,
of Afghanistan during the fiercest On June 26, 2008, two Marine were in the second vehicle roughly
firefight of his life. Special Operations Teams with 2d 50 meters away from the forward
Torrisi saved the lives of four of Marine Special Operation Battalion, most vehicle. Both sergeants re-
his comrades and received the Silver MARSOC, and Afghan National ceived Bronze Stars with combat dis-
Star Medal at the Court House Bay Army Soldiers set out on a mission tinguishing devices, for their actions
Gymnasium on Jan 21. to locate a high value target in the in the firefight
So far, one Navy Cross, two Silver mountains of Afghanistan. As the gunfire rained down on
Star Medals, and two Bronze Star After driving across the desert, the their position, the sergeants immedi-
Medals with combat distinguishing teams came to a draw surrounded ately began laying down cover fire
devices have been awarded in the on each side by mountains. MSOT in hopes the Marines further on the
battle’s aftermath. 1 pushed into the narrow draw with ground would be able to take cover.
“I’m the one getting recognized two tactical vehicles and an addi- Bolanos jumped from the driver seat
today, but everybody knows, I hope, tional tactical vehicle from MSOT to man a M240G machine gun and
6 Hospital Corps Quarterly
sprayed rounds into the mountain- to die,’” Torrisi said. just one path in and one path out,”
side while Schoenheit fired a barrage Then a bullet ripped through the Bolanos said.
of Mark 47 Striker 40 automatic only other Corpsman on the ground, Torrisi then fireman-carried
grenade launcher rounds. piercing his lungs and other vital Schoenheit the rest of the way to
“When he’s running out of ammo, organs. the rearward vehicle. Three of the
I’m shooting and when I’m down “That’s when I heard (the other wounded Marines where evacuated
he’s shooting, we’re talking guns,” corpsman) was injured. … They by air support.
Bolanos said. don’t have any other corpsmen in As the firefight raged on, Torrisi
The Marines received the order there… You hear your buddies go found himself with seven other Ma-
to move forward. Bolanos exposed down …You close your eyes… You rines taking cover tightly along the
himself to the enemy’s line of fire to think about everything … You hear side of the forwardmost vehicle.
move closer to the forward vehicle. you’re the only other Corpsman. Torrisi was shot in the leg while
He jumped out of the vehicle and the What would you do?” Torrisi said. administering aid to the wounded
two sergeants resumed laying fire Torrisi was in the trunk of a MSOT 2 Corpsman. He refused aid until the
into the mountainside. vehicle that was heading toward the Corpsman’s wounds were addressed.
However, the enemy positions draw to provide additional support. With the Marines pinned down,
seemed impossible to find and their However, Mosser’s orders and the Moser exposed himself to enemy fire
fire was deadly accurate. rugged terrain halted them. to gather more accurate grid coor-
A single shot tore though Schoe- Torrisi jumped out of the vehicle dinates on the enemy’s position. He
nheit’s night vision goggles and and sprinted 50 meters through the then radioed in the grid coordinates
Kevlar helmet, then split and entered enemy’s line of fire to the rearward and air support dropped a barrage of
his skull. vehicle. He addressed the Marines’ bombs, distracting the enemy.
“My bell was rung pretty good,” wounds and then sprinted another Three Marines and Torrisi took the
Schoenheit said. “At first I blacked 50-75 meters to Bolanos’ and Schoe- opportunity to carry the wounded
out momentarily in the turret and nheit’s vehicle. Corpsman to the cave system.
woke up in the truck. In my mind “The vehicle was getting pinged The Marine driving the forward-
I’m thinking I’m fine, I’m fine, but like it was cool, because they saw most vehicle smashed it into one
my ability to speak was shut down.” me run up,” Torrisi said. of the abandoned cars to clear a
Bolanos pulled Schoenheit into a Bullets entered the inside of the path. The vehicles pulled in and the
safe position in the truck and ban- vehicle from the turret and windows. Marines loaded their wounded into
daged his head wound. Another Ma- Immersed in rapid sniper fire, and the vehicles and headed to a UH-60
rine ran back to the vehicle to take unable to provide Schoenheit care, Black Hawk helicopter that landed
up the automatic grenade launcher Torrisi did something a little crazy inside the danger zone. The severely
and was then shot through the hand to end the snipers assault on their wounded were evacuated.
and shoulder. Bolanos pulled him position. The Marines then pulled out of the
into the vehicle. “I launched a bunch of 203 rounds draw, to a safe location where the
Meanwhile, GYSGT John S. (grenade rounds fired from an M203 rest of the wounded Marines where
Mosser and MAJ Dan Strelkauskas, grenade launcher mounted on the un- evacuated.
then a captain and team leader, were derside of a service rifle) up through “It sounds cheesy, but we don’t do
dealing with mounting injuries and the turret from my sitting position, it for the medals,” Bolanos said. “We
relentless fire on the ground near the probably not the smartest thing, but don’t do it for the awards. We do it
cave system. it stopped the fire,” Torrisi said. for each other and to make sure we
Mosser was awarded the Navy Torrisi administered aid and then come back safe and sound.”
Cross and Strelkauskas received a ordered Bolanos to back the vehicle “I think the family gets the most
Silver Star Medal for their actions to a safer location. out of it because they are going to be
that day. The boulders made navigating proud of us no matter what we do,”
Over the radio, Mosser, ordered though the draw difficult, and slow- Schoenheit said.
no one else enter the draw. ing down or turning around was “It’s an honor, it’s very humbling,
“He was basically saying over impossible, Bolanos said. but it’s one thing that if you see it on
the radio, ‘nobody else comes in. If “There was no maneuvering anyone’s chest you know it’s been a
anybody else comes in you’re going forward, just backward. There was really, really bad day,” Torrisi said.■
Winter 2010 7
A BRIEF HISTORY OF
NAVY MEDICINE IN HAITI
By André B. Sobocinski
O
n 12 January 2010, a 7.0
U
magnitude earthquake hit SM
C
the tiny nation of Haiti and p
h
shocked the global community. It is a o
to
sad fact that this country that clings to b
y
the western third of Hispaniola, and no S
g
bigger than the state of Maryland, has t. A
n
suffered more than its share of tragedy. dr
e
w
Since declaring their independence J
from France on 1 January 1804, the . C
a
Haitian people have been ravaged by rls
o
enough natural disasters, diseases, and n
political upheavals to fill an almost
endless supply of Pandoran boxes.
Following the latest devastation to
hit Haiti, the U.S. Navy, in partner-
ship with other Federal departments, HM2 Caleb Medders, assigned to Battalion Landing Team, 1st
NGOs, and global agencies, has Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, provides medical treatment
helped spearhead an international aid during a site assessment in Grand Saline, Haiti.
effort of historical proportions. It is an
enormous and significant undertaking, serving with these two organizations Hurricane Flora and in August 1964
but for the Navy and Marine Corps oversaw sanitation and disease preven- following Hurricane Cleo. From Octo-
team it is not unprecedented. tion by supervising the control of the ber through December 1973, “Opera-
It can be argued that the U.S. Na- mosquito population through drainage tion Navy Handclasp” saw the Navy
vy’s first humanitarian effort in Haiti of the low lying areas, establishing Medical Department sailing to Colum-
began in 1915. Following a guerrilla quarantine facilities, and providing bia and Haiti aboard USS Sanctuary
(aka, Caco) uprising during the disas- frontline medical care. (AH-17) to treat several thousands in
trously brief reign of President Vilbrun The Navy and Marine Corps team a 75-day-long effort. And from 1994
Guillaume Sam, the U.S. government departed the island in 1934 but re- through 1996, the U.S. Navy took part
ordered Navy and Marine forces into turned following several natural disas- in “Operation Sea Signal” rescuing
Haiti in July 1915 to protect financial ters that hit the island over the next 40 many Cuban and Haitian immigrants
interests. The Navy and Marine Corps years. Following Hurricane Hazel in fleeing their countries in precarious
would remain for the next 19 years in October 1954, helicopters from USS makeshift rafts and seeking asylum
a period often referred to as the U.S. Saipan (CVL-48) dropped food, medi- in the United States. Throughout this
Occupation of Haiti (1915-1934). It cine, clothing, and other needed sup- effort, the Navy provided medical care
should be noted that in addition to plies to the stricken Haitians. In 1960, to over 50,000 migrants at its Guan-
quelling the political unrest, the U.S. after the flooding of Lake Miragoane tanamo Bay facilities. Surely, this is a
Marine Corps and Navy developed in southwest Haiti, Marine Assault foundation of goodwill that the Navy
the Haitian Gendarmerie, or Haitian Construction Battalion personnel spent and Marine Corps team can proudly
Constabulary, and established the 29 days on the island rebuilding dam- stand on as we continue to provide
National d’Hygiene Publique (aka, aged infrastructure and constructing a support and medical care to citizens of
Public Health Service). Navy medi- new bridge. Disaster relief efforts were Haiti in 2010.■
cal officers and Hospital Corpsmen replicated in October 1963 following
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. The Hospital Corps Quarterly. Supplement to the Naval Medical Bulletin. 1917-1934.
2. Siegel, Adam. A Sampling of U.S. Naval Humanitarian Operations. Alexandria, VA: Center for Naval
Analyses. 1990.
8 Hospital Corps Quarterly
THE ASSAULT ON
KANGWHA ISLAND
By HM1(FMF) Charles Schaefer
In August 1866, a former Con- The American government, tired assault would be offered. When, at
federate blockade runner, of events like the Sherman Inci- the end of the tenth day, no apology
then American merchantman dent, wished to open the Korean was forthcoming, a land assault on
ironically re-christened The Gen- peninsula to trade, peacefully if the forts was ordered with the goal
eral Sherman ran aground in the possible, but by force if necessary. of dismantling them so as to pre-
Taedong River near Pyongyang in An expeditionary force dispatched vent their further use as defensive
what is now North Korea. Fearful to effect this goal arrived off the works.
and hostile to outsiders, the local coast on the 23rd of May 1871. Six hundred fifty-one Marines
governor ordered an attack on the True to form, the locals were and Sailors, protected by fire from
defenseless steamer. The ship was far from accommodating. Cut- the assembled fleet, landed on
burned and the entire crew was ters from the expeditionary force the Korean coast the next morn-
massacred as they tried to flee. As sent to survey the depth of waters ing. Within three days the trio of
horrible as this event was, it was around the Han estuary, took fire forts defending the Han river were
far from unusual and many Europe- from shore forts almost as soon as reduced. The battle left 300 Kore-
an merchants and missionaries met they came in range. The fire was ans dead at the cost of 3 American
a similar fate on those unwelcome immediately returned by the fleet lives.
shores. and the enemy guns were silenced After the forts were dismantled,
quickly. the Americans returned to their
So aggressive was ships, and after a long and unsuc-
the Korean response to cessful negotiation process, sailed
the American fleet that away. It was not until 1882, and
Admiral John Rodgers, then only with Chinese interven-
expeditionary com- tion, that the Korean Peninsula was
mander, believed that opened to Western trade.
the engagement was not An interesting aspect of this
sanctioned by the Ko- forgotten campaign was the role of
rean king, but the result the Navy Medical Department. In
of an overeager officer. one of their first recorded actions
Unwilling to commit directly attached to a Marine force,
his forces to a decisive Passed Assistant Surgeon Henry
engagement without due Wells and Assistant Surgeons
cause, ADM Rodgers re- Samuel W. Latta and William A.
solved to wait 10days to Corwin led a “hospital company”
see if an apology for the of 12 sailors, armed only with pis-
tols, ashore in support of the action
Map of the American
against the Korean forts.■
Naval Operations in
Korea, 1871.
Courtesy of Naval History and
Heritage Command
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Marine Amphibious Landing in Korea, 1871. Naval Historical Foundation Publication. GPO: Washington, D.C,
1966
Winter 2010 9
HCQ Memories: 1918
By HM1(FMF) Charles Schaefer
By the time the 4th edition of Corpsmen were required to fill the were devoted to the current state of
the original Hospital Corps void. Medical Inspector John S. casualty transportation via motorized
Quarterly was published in Taylor seeing a need, penned an effi- ambulance (a revolutionary devel-
January of 1918, American Sailors cient six page guide to “Corpsmen on opment), with both the British and
were already steaming into harm’s independent duty.” This “Advice to American volunteer services being
way in the Atlantic. World War I was a Hospital Corpsman on Independent reviewed.
entering its fourth year but before the Duty” may well have been the only Of special note is the commen-
doughboys could begin to repay our guidance that the predecessors of to- dation of ChM Mate E. C. Ware.
debt to Lafayette, they had to cross day’s IDCs received as they weighed CPhM Ware, while aboard an un-
the treacherous seascape. Rightly anchor to join the fight to secure the named warship (name redacted for
focused on the conditions in Europe, sea lanes to France. security concerns) received two
the Quarterly attempted to prepare A letter from Dr. George Brewer, a wounded seamen from a British
the Corpsmen of 1918 to face war on civilian doctor then serving in France steamer after a submarine attack.
an industrial scale. details the alarming facts of the situ- PhMC Ware “rendered valuable
An often overlooked aspect of the ation. His aid station received 900 assistance both in transferring the
American entry into the First World combat casualties in 24 hours, but patients and during the whole treat-
War was marked by a colossal expan- this was an exception. An aid station ment aboard ship and could, in my
sion of the military. As manpower in an active sector could expect to opinion, have handled them quite
was stretched to meet new wartime receive 200 casualties a day on aver- well alone.”■
requirements, some ships sailed with- age.
out qualified medical officers aboard. Several pages of the Quarterly
B
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10 Hospital Corps Quarterly