Happy 133rd Birthday Hospital Corps

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SHUTTLE

USS Enterprise (CVN 65)- Friday June 17, 2011

Happy 133rd Birthday

Hospital Corps Photo by MC3 Jared M. King

Friday June 17, 2011

the SHUTTLE

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Enterprise News

Enterprise Celebrates 133 years of Corpsmen

By MC2 Jymyaka J. Braden USS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea – Whether they are called ‘Loblolly boys,’ Surgeons’ Stewards, Apothecaries, ‘Baymen’ or simply ‘Docs,’ hospital corpsmen by any other name would be just as dedicated to maintaining a healthy fighting force.

The crew aboard the deployed aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) recognized this fact by celebrating the 113th birthday of the Navy Hospital Corps June 17.

Though the Navy has employed medical staff throughout its history, the Hospital Corps wasn’t established until 1898 by order of President William McKinley according to Hospital Corpsman Navy Education and Training Manual (NAVEDTRA 14295).

“Hospital Corpsmen deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, in wartime and in peacetime,” said Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson, Jr., Navy surgeon general and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in a statement commemorating the event. “From Khe Sanh to Kandahar, Iwo Jima to the Chosin Reservoir, the Hospital Corps has always been in the fight and on the battlefield.”

According to Big E’s Senior Medical Officer Cmdr. Kevin J. Brown, the hospital corpsman is one of the most diverse rates in the Navy.

“We have several corpsmen with advanced specialty training, but at any given moment they are expected to provide life-saving care outside their area of expertise,” said Brown. “That’s why the hospital corpsman must be proficient in a wide range of skills. A corpsman who only takes x-rays in a hospital will determine a shipmate’s survival in an emergency onboard a ship or in the field caring for Marines.”

Brown said this deployment

(Clockwise, starting from left) Photo by MC3 Jared M. King, MC3 Jacob Galito, MC3 Austin Rooney and MC3 Jared M. King

(far left) Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (SW/AW) Shennirrie S. Milfort dyes the right eye of Aviation Support Equipment Technician Airman Juan L. Martinez inspect for abrasions and debris. (Top center) Hospital Corpsman 3rd class Jonathan L. Rivas checks a patient’s intravenous bag. (Far right) A response team carries off a simulated victim under the watchful eye of a medical observer during a mass casualty drill. (Bottom center) Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (SW/AW) Stuart A. Breen assists a Sailor with simulated injuries during a mass casualty drill in the hangar bay.

alone has proven the importance of this diversity.

“Our corpsmen have responded magnificently to each obstacle and crisis presented to them. It has been a highlight in my career watching them do their work,” he said. “In an emergency, one of the first things people ask is, ‘where is doc?’ For 113 years, 50 of those years on this amazing warship, the question has been answered with honor and valor by a simple phrase-- ‘Corpsman Up.’” Brown said that call has been answered heroically and with valor by hospital corpsman past and present.

Currently, more than 20,000 active duty and Reserve Navy Hospital Corpsmen serve with both the Navy and the Marine Corps throughout the world. The Hospital Corps is the largest rating in the Navy and the most decorated in the U.S. Twenty naval ships alone have been named after hospital corpsmen.

“Today, several thousand

Hospital Corpsmen are again deployed with ships, Marines, Fleet Hospitals, Fleet Surgical Teams, Squadrons, Seabees, Hospitals and Clinics,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SW/FMF) Michael Wilson. “Corpsmen are currently serving with distinction with these units. We will continue to do so in this conflict and any that our country faces in an uncertain future.”

“Corpsmen had many titles before but the focus has always been fleet heath,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF) John Julian. “On Big ‘E,’ our mission is keeping Sailors mission ready and providing competent, timely preventive, acute, and emergent care. We support sustained combat operations from and on the sea.”

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW) Sonia Hopkins said she is proud to serve with the legendary Enterprise corpsmen whose medical staff was ranked at the top for the Atlantic Fleet in medical readiness.

“The Big ‘E’ has 39 Corpsmen for a crew of more than 4,300 Sailors and Marines,” said Hopkins. “We use our skills to make sure that we provide the best possible care in any situation. We do a lot of training in sick call, trauma, admin, et cetera, because we never know what we will be faced with.”

Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/AW) Cheri R. Snaza, the leading chief petty officer of Enterprise’s Medical Department, said the crew of the Enterprise can count on its Corpsmen to continue the 113-year legacy of excellent and unyielding care by their rating for the remainder of Enterprise’s deployment and beyond.

“As the Hospital Corpsmen pledge states, ‘the care of the sick and injured…is a privilege and a sacred trust,’” said Snaza. “As sacred as this ship is to our nation, so is the quality of care we provide to each patient. The Sailors and Marines of Enterprise can always count on their Hospital Corpsman.

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the SHUTTLE

Friday June 17, 2011

Sailor of the Day Aviation Ordnanceman Airman

Marine of the Day Corporal

Gregory L.G. Acejo- Koblerville, Saipan

Stephen Pullins- Gallipolis, OH

AOAN Acejo, a maintenance technician for Enterprise’s Weapons Department, G-1 Division, joined the Navy one year and seven months ago to “see the world and better my life.” To Acejo, the most rewarding aspect of his job is getting to know his job and the Navy better while “working with such a wide diversity of people.”

Acejo aspires to make third class petty officer and earn his enlisted aviation warfare surface pin. In the future, he would like to “get accepted to a good art college.” In his spare time, Acejo likes to draw and “play around with anything having to do with electronics.”

Cpl. Pullens, an F/A-18C avionics technician assigned to the “Thunderbolts” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251, joined the Marine Corps three years and four months ago to “be the best, become part of a brotherhood and see the world.” To Pullens, the most rewarding aspect of his job is “knowing it could be a Marine on the ground that my aircraft are coming to help.” Pullens plans to earn a degree in criminal justice from Ohio State University and one day work for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

When he returns from deployment, Pullens plans to spend time with his wife while watching Ohio State football.

Photo by MC2 Michael L. Croft

FUN ZONE!

Down 1 “___ dixit” 2 Cut, as grass 3 Bard 4 Civil War general 5 ___ and pains 6 Strong-scented herb 7 Snare 8 Sister of Venus 9 Rich king 10 Irish fairy 11 Collect in abundance 12 Infiltrator 15 More intense 18 Adolescent 22 1977 U.S. Open champ 24 Trojan War hero 26 Polish-American author Sholem 27 Musical Mitchell 28 Vermont’s capital 30 Calculator key 32 Director Minnelli 34 Jane Austen classic 35 Active sort 37 Old photo tone 38 Actors McKellen and Holm 41 “Tartuffe” dramatist 43 Male servants 45 Academy Awards 46 Disparaging remark 47 Soviet secret police chief 1938-53 49 Woodwind instruments 50 No longer active: Abbr.

51 “___ kleine Nachtmusic” 53 Raconteur’s offering 54 Aimless 55 Approaching 58 Be deceitful

Across

1 Rascals 5 Liberal pursuits 9 Chowder morsel 13 “Fiddlesticks!”

14 Remedies 16 San ___ (Riviera resort) 17 Darling 19 Milky gemstone 20 Dinner course 21 Cantankerous 23 City near Phoenix 25 Snaps, crackles and pops

26 One of the United Arab Emirates 29 Starfleet officer Picard 31 Any minute now 32 Delivery vehicle 33 Cut 36 News station 37 Flower Power era 39 Latin lover’s word 40 Hired killers 42 Musical sense 43 Seethe with rage 44 Filmgoer’s purchase

46 Underwater detection system 47 Shows to be false 48 Individual performance 50 Trust 52 Be a Nosy Parker 56 Superior’s inferior?

57 Not mass-produced 59 Grandstand section 60 Sgt. Bilko 61 Noted first name in jazz 62 Take a risk 63 Witnesses 64 Not e’en once