David R Ray, Hospital Corpsman Second Class, USN, received the Medal of Honor for his service in Viet Nam, as did four corpsmen on Iwo Jima, three on Okinawa, and about fourteen other corpsmen. I can imagine a corpsman deserving both a “top sailor” award and a Medal of Honor (I’ve met several great men who earned that award and survived), but I’m a little curious what these women did that puts them above every single person in the Navy who serves at the pointy end of the spear.
Good point, and I wonder if any of these female Corpse-men have served with any combat units in Iraq or Afghanistan, or even if women Hospital Corpsmen do now serve with Marine combat units.
My guess of the outstanding Corpsman of the year would be one that had actually served with Marine units involved in combat,