A Memorial honoring all Corpsman is becoming a reality - and they want all of us to contribute in any way we can to make it happen. **********************************************************

The first meeting for making the Corpsman's memorial a reality, held it's first meeting: and it was a success.  It was stated and felt by all in attendance that this memorial is long overdue in a community that has been the home of one of the two commands that train Corpsmen for duty with the Marines since 1950.

The corpman's relationship with the FMF goes back over 110 years since the first corpsmen made the landings with the Marine Expeditionary Unit landing in Guantanamo Cuba.  Heroism of the Navy Corpsmen can never be denied, with 18 Corpsmen winning the Medal of Honor and up until the present war in Iraq 2494 Corpsmen have died in the line of duty in the defense of their country.  There have been 6 corpsmen killed in the War on Terrorism, just from the eastern North Carolina area.  Many of these corpsmen have died taking care of their Marines. As any Corpsman who has been in a grunt outfit can tell you, the Marines in his unit are his Marines: like the Marines will call their corpsmen "my doc".

We still have a lot of work to do, and we will accept all offers of help from all quarters, no matter what your previous service or rank was.  For all Navy Corpsmen, whether you are retired, active duty or spent part of your enlistment as a corpsman;  this is your chance to remember your fallen brother who gave his all.  Any rank should be involved whether an HR all of the way to Captain, MSC officer.  All Marines are asked to be a part of this team, even if your only contact has been getting your shots and getting seen in sick call.  I really want to thank my brothers in the MOPH Chapter 642 for their continuing full support, and would like to get all other Veterans groups involved.

We are slowly having our WWII veterans leave us, and I would like to get this Memorial up asap.  It will remember all of the Corpsmen in the past, present and future, who are giving their all for their country, their Marines and their beloved Hospital Corps.  The next meeting be on Wednesday the 20th of February at 1900 hours at Spanky's bar here in Jacksonville.  Any questions please contact me at 910 388 3468, or wave277@yahoo.com on the internet.

Verl Matthews, 127 Winthrope Way Jacksonville, NC 28546  Tel # 388 3468