Corpsmen, pronounced Coremen, are navy people who are trained as battlefield medics. many of them are conscious objectors. under international law Corpsmen are not supposed to carry arms nor to engage in fighting the enemy. they wear a Red Cross in a white back ground on their helmet to identify them and supposedly to show that they are not Marines but rather angles of mercy for the wounded men. I have read them being insulted here on answers but I cannot recall any Marine in the 'Nam ever cursing them out or refusing to allow them to save their life. Of course now that we no longer obey international rules it is fair game to pop battlefield medics since they are armed and we do not obey the rules of land warfare so our enemy does not have to obey them either. I would much rather have a trained corpsman who was trained as a doctor come to save me then some semi Marine with a rifle who took Marine training to fight do so. When i need help I don't need another Marine to do it.
2007-10-02 07:22:11 · 12 answers · asked by Rich M 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I agree with you that corpsmen are an integral part of the Marine Corps and have always been among the bravest and most respected men (and now women) in combat. Fortunately, when I was in the Marine Corps we were not in combat (82-88).
2007-10-02 07:28:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Corpsman are Navy "medics". They are also that are allowed (and without argument by the Marines) to wear Marine Corps uniform items. These men (and I believe there are women now [there weren't when I served in the early 90s]) are responsible for the medical needs of the Marines that they are assigned to.
THEY ARE NOT CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS! They carry sidearms (I have no idea where you heard differently) and are as willing to use it as any of the Marines that they stand beside. The weird thing is, they will go patch the hole after they put it there.
2007-10-02 07:41:33 · answer #2 · answered by LC 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, your a moron if you think anybody who is wounded is going to refuse help from anybody. And if I am reading your question correctly, it sounds like you think Corpsman are Marine wanna-be's with a little medical training. Let me tell you what Corpsman are. They are among some of the bravest, most unselfish individuals in the world. When the call goes out, "Corpsman UP!!", they come running. Under fire, RPG's, mortars, machine guns, they haul *** and get to their Marines. And that's what they consider them, THEIR MARINES!!! And don't think Corpsman are CO's who don't want to fight. They want to make it home just like everybody else, and they WILL fight to do so! The Navy Corpsman I have had the privilege to serve with are among the finest human beings in the world. God Bless the DEVIL DOCS!!!
2007-10-02 09:49:30 · answer #3 · answered by Marine till Death 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You're about 1/2 right. I served in the navy for 22 years and met hundreds of corpsmen. Not a single one was a conscious objector. Conscious objectors are not even allowed to enlist.
2007-10-02 08:27:32 · answer #4 · answered by Yak Rider 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I did eight years with Fleet Marine Forces, as an enlisted Navy Corpsman and a Medical Service Corps Officer. As a Hospital Corpsman I served in all three Marine Divisions and the Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Guantanamo during the Cuban Missile Crisis, all inside a 36-month window. Since all Navy Corpsman are volunteer enlistees, the number of conscientous objectors in their ranks is minimal.
I had one after I was commissioned and stationed at Naval Hospital Philadelphia, who suddenly became a conscientous objector after receiving orders to 'Nam. The Federal judge who heard his request for the Navy to stop his deployment told him his mail would catch up with him after the Navy made their decision. He went in country shortly thereafter.
I never wore a Red Cross brassard. Nor did I have one painted on my helmet. The only thing which distinguished me was the presence of my Unit One and the Caduceus on the left collar of my utilities. It wasn't until my last stint with Fleet Marines that we had "U.S. Navy" emblazoned on one pocket of the utilities. Until that time we wore Marine utilities with "USMC" and the globe and anchor on one pocket of the utilities. I wore a .45 caliber pistol as well. It was permitted under the Law of Land Warfare (Geneva Conventions). That Law does not require medical personnel to be unarmed. It says they can arm themselves to protect their own life and the lives of their patients. In fact, I also toted along a few grenades. They make a lot of noise and the bad guys quit shooting.
I think you are confusing Army medics with Navy Corpsmen. As much respect as I have for those in the Army Medical Service, they are not Navy Corpsmen.
2007-10-02 08:37:32 · answer #5 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have an army friend who was a medic. The second time he got out of the hospital for taking a bullet while trying to treat a wounded soldier, he decided he was going to start going armed too.
It's not that we don't follow the rules. It's that the enemies of america look for that red cross as a sign "shoot this person first."
2007-10-02 07:31:12 · answer #6 · answered by promethius9594 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I understand your Ire. I was in Vietnam and respect medics of all types. They are dedicated, brave and true heroes.
The only disagreement that I have with your statement is the last sentence. When I was lying on the ground full of shrapnel, I didn't really care too much about who it was that was there helping me. I was just very glad that he was there. As it turned out it was a guy with no medical training that just wanted to help.
Cheers.
2007-10-02 07:38:15 · answer #7 · answered by Perplexed 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, there's no Geneva prohibition against medics, corpsmen, nurses, and physicians being armed. They are allowed personal firearms and may use them in defense of self or patient. No news here. They just aren't allowed to use the weapons in offensive action.
2007-10-02 09:30:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A friend's son is a corpsman. He's not a CO. He's interested in medicine, health care profession, etc. The father told me that the Marines he's served with have treated him well, keeping a seat open for him at meals, etc., including him in social activities, etc.
And that there was a kind of "we've got your back and we know you'll be there for us if we need you" kind of rapport. Anyway, that's what he said.
2007-10-02 07:40:54 · answer #9 · answered by MALIBU CANYON 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I do not agree with your last statement. Any marine that is willing to drop a knee on me to stop the bleeding when the doc ain't around is fine by me. There training is alot greater then the ones you had. do not look down on the marines for your lack of training.
Sea Bee for life.
2007-10-02 09:02:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋