|
Dedicated to Doc's w/ 2/7
|
|
I am new to your organization but never the less a fellow Doc and a fellow
member. Therefore I felt I needed to pass this on. May all of our fallen
commrads rest in peace. Bob "DOC" Brandt
>Just forwarding on a Thank you !!!!!!!!!
>
>Semper Fi Terry
>
>Subject: REMEMBRANCE OF ALL OUR "DOCS"
>
>>Dedicated To The Corpsmen Of The United States Navy
>
>
>"The Doc"
>
>To civilians they are known as land-locked sailors,
>Who know first aid
>The media, as they blindly lump all servicemen as soldiers,
>Refer to them collectively as medics
>
>The Navy classifies them as Corpsmen
>Or, those crazy guys who have chosen to jump ship
>Get mean and dirty and go to serve with
>Those other lunatics, Marines
>
>But to us Marines
>They are the Angels of the battlefield
>The lifesavers in camouflage, our Brothers
>And we simply, respectfully, call them Doc
>
>The combination of Marines and our Corpsmen is unique
>A partnership of two different military branches
>Working continually as one
>There is no other intra-service union like it
>
>A Marine combat unit can be likened to
>The Wrath of God, believe it
>With the addition of our beloved Corpsmen
>This unit now also contains His Mercy
>
>When a Doc first joins a Marine unit
>They become his Marines
>Soon he will know them all by name
>And to his Marines he will always be known as their Doc
>
>It is a bond that will last a lifetime
>A bond of Brotherhood that few men can obtain
>Forged in the horror of battle
>Strengthened by the trying times they share
>
>"The Doc will fix you up, pronto"
>From a slight case of trench foot
>To a sucking chest wound
>The Doc takes care of his Marines
>
>In the most intense heat of battle
>Out of the darkest of nights
>When the call, "Corpsman Up" goes forth
>Be assured that call will always be answered
>
>On a field of death, hatred and mayhem
>The Doc will courageously surge forth time and again
>Without regard to his own personal safety
>To bring mercy, compassion and medical aid to others
>
>The Doc will reach his fallen Brother
>Stick his finger into a bullet hole to stop the bleeding
>His fist into a chest wound
>His heart and soul into his work
>
>It is The Doc who holds the stricken Marine
>Tells him he will be okay
>Works on his wounds at a fever pitch
>Begs him to, "Just hold on!"
>
>It is The Doc who comforts the suffering
>Talks in a low, soft assuring voice
>Prays for his Marine who is failing
>Weeps at his untimely death
>
>In calmer, less violent times
>It is The Doc who checks on his Marines while others are resting
>Distributes medicine and care to civilians in the area
>And advises the CO and Sergeant about the men when it is requested
>
>Marines and Corpsmen
>Is it any wonder why these men
>Who strive, fight and suffer together
>Love and respect each other so
>
>On my desk is a statue of the second Iwo flag raising
>The most famous photo of the Corps
>Five Marines and their Corpsman
>A Corpsman and his Marines
>
>Frozen throughout eternity in the struggle to raise Our Flag
>It was not just by chance that a Corpsman was included: it was fate
>For even as God has given us free will so we may control our fate
>God does has a way of moving things around
>
>God knows the importance of this bond between us
>He understands
>Doc Bradley had to be included in our most famous moment
>It would just not have been right without him
>
>Today we are gathered to pay tribute to Robert J. Gibson,
>Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother and Friend,
>Vietnam Veteran, U.S. Navy Corpsman,
>A Twenty-year Man, American Patriot, The Doc
>
>Although I never had the opportunity to meet or serve with Doc G
>I had the honor a few weeks ago to talk to him on the phone
>His Platoon Cmdr. Heino Meybaum asked me to call him
>Doc wanted to become a member of our 1/1 Marine, Vietnam Veteran's group
>
>As I only knew him as Doc Gibson
>I asked what I should call him
>"Doc." He said
>Stupid question, especially from an old Marine
>
>He told me that he had "never lost a man in Vietnam."
>There was no hint of bravado or boast in his words
>Just a sense of pride, and justly so
>I thought to myself, I like this man
>
>I told him that he was sort of like the Perry Mason of Docs
>He laughed and said yeah I guess so.
>We talked for about an hour
>The more we talked the more engaged with him I became
>
>We spoke of war, the memories of younger men
>About his failing health
>Then back to the war, and of our
>Brother-to-Brother bonds
>
>We laughed, and too soon he said he had to go
>He was getting tired
>We said goodbye and
>Semper Fi
>
>An hour or so later I called him back
>George Porter had enrolled him into our group
>And Doc was very happy to hear it
>But surprised it had happened so fast
>
>He told me that he was glad to have talked to someone
>Who got things done like they said they would for a change
>His words made me feel very good about myself
>I understand The Doc was very good at making others feel that way
>
>Doc Gibson was very pleased he had joined our group
>But he never had the chance to post his thoughts
>Shortly after his addition
>The Doc was admitted to the hospital
>
>Many of our member Marines and Corpsmen
>Called Doc G in his last days
>We all came away feeling better about ourselves
>He was that type of man
>
>As I said, I never got to meet Doc Gibson in person
>But I miss him and mourn his loss
>We are Brothers
>Bourne from a bond from which we served
>
>However it is not my intent in this writing
>To place Doc Gibson above other Corpsman
>From what I have learned of him
>He would not stand for such a thing
>
>My hope in writing this was that people would come to know
>That Doc Gibson was not the exception to the rule
>But rather a shinning example of the rule
>That simple rule of men striving to become the best that they can be
>
>Because of men like Doc Gibson
>The world is a better place
>Through their efforts, courage, compassion and humanity
>And there are a lot more Marines still with us because of them
>
>Like any sensible man
>The Doc did not want to leave the safety of his position
>He did not want to leave his family and friends
>But like all good men Doc Gibson always answered his call to duty
>
>So for one last time Doc Gibson heard God call, "Corpsman Up!"
>And like all good Corpsmen, without regard to his own personal safety
>He answered that call, for he knew no other way
>It was just his nature.
>
>God Bless You Doc,
>God Bless You All.
>
>Michael E. Tank
>03-21-06
>DEDICATED TO ALL CORPSMEN WHO SERVED IN E 2 7,
>1ST MARINE DIVISION
>PARTIAL LIST:
>OLIVER MOREHEAD
>DOC McCOY
>LARRY ROYER
>DOC PHILLIPS
>
>PLEASE SEND ME ANY OTHERS YOU REMEMBER ASAP SO I CAN ADD
>THEM PRIOR TO PUTTING THIS ON OUR WEBSITE- THANKS, TROY
|
|