Semper
Fi, Doc!
We
receive some wonderful comments from our Marines about the FMF Corpsmen
they served with. We will be posting their memories and tributes
to our Docs.
I
served with "H" 2/7 and "C" 1/3 and can attest
to the courage, tenacity, and the will to place themselves in the
line of danger to help the wounded and suffering Marines. I have
and always will hold the Corpsman in the highest esteem. They asked
nothing for themselves, and were always in the thick of battle to
help their fellow Marines. Thank you for this opportunity to express
may graditude to my fellow Corpsmen. Semper Fi, Percy
~~~
They
Sacrificed Themselves For Us...
There was one Corpsman that served with several of us
at An Hoa, who was called Corky; that was real short when one of
our Arty units fired some rounds over our heads, and one of them
was a short round. One of those that they called a butterfly round,
(Cofram); it went off over our compound and spread its load all
over our compound and we went around for several days dodging those
little bundles of joy. Corky was in his tent, where he was laying down; he
was killed by one that came through the top of his tent above his
cot.
I
am well aware that our Corpsmen have never, nor probably ever will
be, truly recognized for their devotion to duty to the point
that they literally sacrificed themselves for us. How could
they do more than what they did, risking their lives under fire
to try and save a wounded Marine's life, at the risk of their own.
What more ultimate sacrifice is there than to get mortally wounded,
severely maimed, or to even lose their own life.
They
have my utmost and complete respect for what they did in the name
of serving their country. Should any of them need to know just how
important they were to us Marines, I would be glad to tell them.
In person, by phone, by letter, by fax, by email; and last but not
least tell Mabel (the media-TV, Radio, and newspapers).
There was one Corpsman that served with several of us
at An Hoa, who was called Corky; that was real short when one of
our Arty units fired some rounds over our heads, and one of them
was a short round. One of those that they called a butterfly round,
(Cofram); it went off over our compound and spread its load all
over our compound and we went around for several days dodging those
little bundles of joy. Corky was in
his tent, where he was laying down; he was killed by one that came
through the top of his tent above his cot.
I
am well aware that our Corpsmen have never, nor probably ever will
be, truly recognized for their devotion to duty to the point
that they literally sacrificed themselves for us. How could
they do more than what they did, risking their lives under fire
to try and save a wounded Marine's life, at the risk of their own.
What more ultimate sacrifice is there than to get mortally wounded,
severely maimed, or to even lose their own life.
They
have my utmost and complete respect for what they did in the name
of serving their country. Should any of them need to know just how
important they were to us Marines, I would be glad to tell them.
In person, by phone, by letter, by fax, by email; and last but not
least tell Mabel (the media-TV, Radio, and newspapers).
There was one Corpsman that served with several of us
at An Hoa, who was called Corky; that was real short when one of
our Arty units fired some rounds over our heads, and one of them
was a short round. One of those that they called a butterfly round,
(Cofram); it went off over our compound and spread its load all
over our compound and we went around for several days dodging those
little bundles of joy. Corky was in
his tent, where he was laying down; he was killed by one that came
through the top of his tent above his cot.
I
am well aware that our Corpsmen have never, nor probably ever will
be, truly recognized for their devotion to duty to the point
that they literally sacrificed themselves for us. How could
they do more than what they did, risking their lives under fire
to try and save a wounded Marine's life, at the risk of their own.
What more ultimate sacrifice is there than to get mortally wounded,
severely maimed, or to even lose their own life.
They
have my utmost and complete respect for what they did in the name
of serving their country. Should any of them need to know just how
important they were to us Marines, I would be glad to tell them.
In person, by phone, by letter, by fax, by email; and last but not
least tell Mabel (the media-TV, Radio, and newspapers).
Ralph
L Stegall
H&S 2/5, 106 Sec
~~~
"I
can never say THANK YOU ALL enough."
Brad
Reynolds/Mike 3/5
~~~
"They
were with us every step of the way on line."
~Chuck
Greene, Mike 3/5~
~~~
"In Memory of John Bradley," holds a special meaning. John's son, Steven
served with Lima 3/5 Vietnam, was WIA 6-11-68. Steven
is an active participant in our annual reunions, and carries on
the Bradley tradition with pride and respect for all of our
precious Corpsman.~Robert Henry
Semper Fi ...
from the Marines of Lima
3/5, Vietnam
Mar. 6, 2000
~~~
Doc Gilbert was his name, he cleaned up my jungle sores, tended my
water swollen feet, fixed me up when I almost whacked my finger
off trying to cut some comm. wire for a jungle antenna. And in the
midst of all the fear and chaos of a night ambush, he tended my
wounds, and told me I'd be okay. And somehow like all "Docs,"
did he produce the impossible, a cup of Hot Chocolate. To this day
I don't know how he did it.
Mike
Wilson
H&S 3/5 '68, COMM
Mar. 6, 2000
~~~
Doc
Buzzelli
I was a weapons section leader with Mike, 3/5, in '69,
and I had the pleasure of knowing Doc Buzzelli. I heard that Doc
died of a heart attack recently according to another corpsman
who knew him. This site is a nice tribute to him, and all corpsmen
who served not only in Viet Nam, but in all conflicts.
Semper Fi.
Bob Spano, Mike
3/5
Mar. 5, 2000
~~~
Corpsman
are surely sent by the angels! I have seen them keep many Marines
alive. Without them many more would have been lost in the war.
Rod
Johnson, India
3/5
Mar. 5, 2000
~~~
No
matter how cynical I can be, no matter how shy if feel towards any
glory involved with our actions, I will always feel something special
for our Corpsmen. They were, without exception, the worst dressed,
most unmilitary anarchists I ever had the pleasure of knowing. Any
one of 'em would risk their life for any one of us. And did.
Often. I owe them all a beer.~Joe
Holt, India
3/5
~~~
I
remember the 2 on my team in Recon and through them I have a deep
respect for all corpsman~Bob Morris
~~~
The
battle at Hai Van Pass (May 8-12 '68) cost us all but one
corpsman, and I think it was Doc Johnson. In 1994, I went to
my first reunion in KoKomo, Indiana. I went to sign in the guestbook,
and when I looked for the 3/5 Marines book, someone said the guy
behind me was filling it out. I turned to see a corpsman signing
into Mike 3/5. He was one of the many replacements we had. The
guy and I start talking, and I tell him about the Pass, and the
corpsman that survived. Well, he invites me up to have a drink after
the festivities. When I show up at his room, he tells me I
should have been there 1/2 hour sooner as the corpsman I told
him about was there, and told him the same story. He had to
leave on a bus, and I never did get to see him. Bum Luck. ~Jim
H. Blankenheim,
M and H&S 3/5
~~~
SEMPER
FI! DOCS
WHO
IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD WANT TO HONOR THESE GUYS? WELL PROBABLY
EVERY MARINE THAT EVER LIVED, AND A LOT OF THEM THAT DIDN'T,
BUT WERE SHOWN THE COMPASSION AND LOVE THAT A CORPSMAN WAS
ABLE TO GIVE THEM IN THEIR LAST MOMENTS ON EARTH. COME TO
THINK OF IT, WHO EVER SAID MARINES WERE IN THEIR RIGHT MINDS?
THANKS DEBBE FOR THIS CHANCE TO SAY THANK YOU DOC'S!!!
SEMPER
FI!
DAVE GURBAL, INDIA 3/5
~~~
In
Memory of Doc Harry Bowman
You
were always fun to be around. You were always serious when
you had to be. You cared more about your Marines than you did yourself.
This caring cost you your life and to this day, you are my
biggest hero. You knew what had to be done, even in the face
of a vicious and deadly battle.
You
did it, and from that moment on, you left a memory that remains,
even after 32 years, with all those Marines that knew you. You see,
you touched their hearts with unselfish heroism. You died in my
arms on May 9, 1968, at Hai Van Pass and the NVA Base Camp, and
I will never forget how crushed and devastated everyone was that
knew you.
I
wish you were alive to see it. You were hit with three rounds in
your side while going after the wounded. But, that was your
Marine that you went to help, and that was the way you were. You
will always be remembered by all those other Marines, who were
your Marines also. Thanks for the privilege. ~Jerry Lomax,
Mike 3/5
~~~
"Doc"
was a Grunt
I
served with India Company 3/5 1st Marine Division Viet Nam 1/69-8/13/69.
During my tour we had 2 corpsmen, the first one I only knew as "tons
of fun"... the second one was a Doc Ward came over from Canada
to serve with us. Both these Corpsmen upheld the highest honor of
Valor, and as the saying goes, we loved our Corpsmen.
It
would be so special to me if I could locate these guys, especially
Doc Ward. I owe my life to him as do many a grunt. 1st platoon had
got caught in the meatgrinder in a place called "THE ARIZONA"...
walked into the 90th NVA regiment.
After 30 years, India Company had our second reunion, and it would
be an honor to have any Corpsmen who served with 3/5 to join us
in these reunions. There are a lot of grunts that would love to
embrace our Corpsmen, welcome them home and give them a long overdue
"thank you."
On
behalf of all the GRUNTS that served in Nam, would appreciate any
help locating any Brave Corpsmen that put their lives on the line
to patch our broken bodies up. Thank You for your time and help.
Semper Fidelis and Welcome Home to all our Brother Corpsmen.~Dennis Tenety,
I 3/5 Viet Nam 1969
~~~
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(FMF Corpsman title graphic by Redeye)
(Corpsman
treating wounded graphic courtesy of "Doc's"
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