The FReeper Foxhole Profiles Combat Medics - Feb. 6th, 2004

see educational sources

[snippy_about_it]

Medics, A Brief History



During Ancient times if a soldier was wounded, he laid in the field where he had fallen. There was no one to come to his aid. Napoleon's Army was the first to assign people to help the wounded. They were called the litter-bearers, made up mostly of inept and expendable soldiers. The American Colonel Army lead by George Washington, also had litter-bearers during the Revolutionary War.



In 1862, due to the unexpected size of casualty lists during the battle of Manassas where it took one week to remove the wounded from the battlefield, Dr. Jonathan Letterman, Head of Medical Services of the Army of the Potomac, revamped the Army Medical Corps. His contribution included staffing and training men to operate horse teams and wagons to pick up wounded soldiers from the field and to bring them back to field dressing stations for initial treatment. This was our Nation's first Ambulance Cops. Dr. Letterman also developed the 3 tiered evacuation system which is still used today.

Field Dressing (Aid) Station - located next to the battlefield. Dressings and tourniquets

Field Hospital - Close to the battlefield (during the Civil War it would be Barns or Houses, today they are known as MASH units). Emergency surgery and treatment.

Large Hospital - Away from the battlefield. For patients' prolonged treatment.

Dr. Letterman's transportation system proved successful. In the battle of Antietam, which was a 12 hour engagement and the bloodiest one day battle in the entire Civil War, the ambulance system was was able to remove all the wounded from the field in 24 hours. Dr. Jonathan Letterman is known today as the Father of Modern Battlefield Medicine. Unfortunately, amputation was the primary method of treatment for wounds to extremities during the Civil War with over 50,000 resulting amputees.



During the Spanish American War in the 1890's Nicholas Sin stated: Fate of the wounded soldier is determined by the hand which applies the dressing. Field dressings are now applied by litter-bearers in the field.

World War I required millions of casualties to be treated at the front. Unlike previous wars, battles did not stop to retrieve the wounded or the dead. World War I saw, for the first time, medics rushing forward with the troops, finding the wounded, stopping their bleeding and bringing the wounded soldier to the aid station. In World War I medics were no longer expendable and were well trained.

After World War I, Military Medicine advanced. Training became a priority both in fighting and medical care. Medics were trained along side infantry soldiers, learning how to use the lay of the land for their protection and that of their patients. Medics were also trained in the use of pressure dressings, plasma IV's, tracheotomy, splints, and administering drugs.



During World War II a wounded soldier had an 85% chance of surviving if he was treated by a medic within the first hour. This figure was three times higher than World War I survival statistics. The red cross worn by medics on their helmet and arm bands became visible targets for enemy snipers during World War II and Korea.



Korea saw the advent of the helicopter being used to bring men from the front lines to M*A*S*H units (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital).

In Vietnam, the medic's job was to treat and evacuate. Medevac helicopters now could bring medics on board to continue treating the wounded while transporting them back to the Field Hospitals.



There was a 98% survival rate for soldiers who were evacuated within the first hour. Vietnam was the first time medics were armed and carried firearms and grenades into combat. Red crosses on helmets and arm bands were no longer worn.

I haven't forgotten Navy Corpsmen. They will be covered on an upcoming thread of their own. ;-)

---

Today's Educational Sources and suggestions for further reading:

http://home.att.net/~steinert/#Brief%20History%20of%20the%20Medical%20Corps www.1stcavmedic.com/
http://home.att.net/~steinert/wwii.htm
www.cr.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/revwar/guco/gucomedicine.html

[snippy_about_it]

We yelled for them and they appeared, like smoke above a fire.
They came to us through battles roar, with only one desire.
They came to treat our wounds or give us comfort our last hour
They came to us and risk their lives, through deadly hails of fire.

The Medics came to patched us up and tell us “You’re OK.”
Whatever made them think that they could save us anyway?
But save they did! And lost their own, in Honor and in Valor.
How many men would we have lost if they had stopped to cower?


A “CMB” is just a badge to many who don’t know.
To those who humped the jungle trails, it is a Medal of its own.
These men who wear the “CMB” are heroes to us all.
Heroes to the men who had to give the “MEDIC!” call.

©John S. Garrison -2002

[snippy_about_it]

Synopsis of Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards - CMB) The Combat Medical Badge was conceived March 1, 1945 by the War Department. The Combat Medical Badge (CMB) could specifically be awarded to Officers and Enlisted personnel of the Medical Department who were assigned to or attached to a medical detachment of the infantry. The CMB was to recognize medical aidmen who shared the same hazards and hardships of ground combat on a daily basis with the infantry soldier.

The CMB was never intended to be awarded to all medical personnel. Due to the uniqueness of ground combat in the infantry it was intended to be awarded only to those Medics who served under direct fire with the infantry. To be awarded the Combat Medical Badge, the infantry unit to which the medical personnel were assigned or attached must have engaged the enemy in active ground combat. Medical personnel must have been personally present and under fire in order to be eligible for this award.

During the Vietnam War, the requirements were so stringent that recommending officials were required to document the place (in six digit co-ordinates), the time, the type of engagement, and also the intensity of fire to which the medical personnel were exposed. The Combat Medical Badge could also be awarded to U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force medical personnel as long as they met all the requirements of Army medical personnel.

[snippy_about_it]

The Combat Medic Prayer

Oh, Lord I ask for the divine strength to meet the demands of my profession. Help me to be the finest medic, both technically and tactically.

If I am called to the battlefield, give me the courage to conserve our fighting forces by providing medical care to all who are in need.

If I am called to a mission of peace, give me the strength to lead by caring for those who need my assistance.

Finally, Lord, help me to take care of my own spiritual, physical and emotional needs. Teach me to trust in your presence and never-failing love.AMEN

[snippy_about_it]

FALL IN to the FReeper Foxhole!



Good Friday Morning Everyone

If you would like added to our ping list let us know.

[GailA]

Hobbs has more to say on the awol story. Bill Hobbs

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Snippy.

SAAB Viggen

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Foxhole. Good to see the GIF.'s back up again.

[E.G.C.]

BTW, Today is Ronald Reagan's birthday. The gipper turns 93. Happy Birthday Gipper!!!!!!

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning and thanks for the link Gail.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Aeronaut. This one looks like a rocket!

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning EGC. It certainly is.

Happy Birthday Ronald Reagan

[The Mayor]

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. —Colossians 3:2

Those who fix their eyes on heaven will not be distracted by the things of earth.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Mayor. We're having a little heat wave, it's 43 degrees, yippee!

[The Mayor]

It's 34 here and I think what you have is headed our way.

It's starting to rain..

[snippy_about_it]

It should be headed your way. But tomorrow is only to be around 30 so enjoy the mild warm-up while you can!

[mark502inf]

A combat medic from the 101st Airborne was presented a Silver Star for heroism in Iraq yesterday.

If you look at his photo in the story, you can see he's already wearing his Combat Medic Badge.

[Johnny Gage]

Here's a good story.

Medic Took Bullets, Shrapnel To Rescue Wounded In Attack (Awarded Silver Star)

[snippy_about_it]

Thank you mark502inf for the link. What a coincidence. These guys are to be admired.

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks Johnny.