June 18, 2011 Bataan Celebrates 113Th Hospital Corps Birthday by Mass Communication Specialist

BATAAN Public Affairs USS BATAAN FPO, AE 09554-1657 [email protected]

June 18, 2011

Bataan Celebrates 113th Hospital Corps Birthday By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Dylan Miles, USS Bataan Public Affairs

USS BATAAN, Mediterranean Sea – Sailors and Marines aboard multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) celebrated the 113th birthday of the Hospital Corps with a ceremony on the ship’s mess decks June 17.

The event featured stories from Bataan’s corpsmen, the history of the hospital corpsman rating, a motivational video, a reading of the poem “I’m the One Called Doc,” and a cake-cutting by the oldest and youngest corpsmen on board.

“The birthday is to celebrate the achievements of hospital corpsmen, and to celebrate friends that have been lost,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SW/AW) Charlena Beebe, medical department’s leading petty officer.

Cpl. Brandon Temple, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and the event’s guest speaker, shared his experiences from Afghanistan and the impact corpsmen had on their mission. Temple said he witnessed firsthand “devil docs” in action, administering first aid following the detonation of an improvised explosive device. “The work the hospital corpsmen do is very important in completing the mission, not only on the battlefield, but in the states as well.”

The Hospital Corps is the most decorated branch of the United States Navy and has fought on the front lines of every battle in United States history. On June 17, 1898, then-President William McKinley, established the Hospital Corps as a recognized member of the Navy Medical Department.

In 1947, the names of the rates hospital apprentice and pharmacist’s mate were officially changed to the current hospital corpsman rating (HM). HMs are commonly referred to on the deckplates by the title “Doc,” a sign of respect from fellow service members.

“It’s an honor to be a Hospital Corpsman,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (SW) Selma Rumohr. “It helps me sleep at night to know my patients are being taken care of properly.” As part of the ceremony, the hospital corpsmen recited their pledge. The nearly 80 corpsmen currently serving aboard Bataan spoke in unison, finishing with the words “I dedicate my heart, mind, and strength to the work before me. I shall do all within my power to show in myself an example of all that is honorable and good throughout my naval career.”

“It was an honor and a privilege to participate in the Navy hospital corpsman birthday celebration,” said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (FMF/SW) Vincent Crews, from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked aboard Bataan.

Bataan is the command ship of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.