Today is the 121st birthday of the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps, which originated with a 1898 law signed by President William McKinley.
All Hands Magazine, the Navy’s digital magazine, released a video to commemorate the more than 30,000 men and women who serve in the Hospital Corps.
The Navy Surgeon General, Vice Admiral C. Forrest Faison III, released a message to the Navy Hospital Corpsman:
On behalf of the Navy Medicine family, I would like to thank the members of the Hospital Corps for their 121 years of faithful and exceptional service. You have supplied our Navy and Marine Corps team with unmatched first-rate health care that has allowed our warfighters to protect and serve our nation. We commend and celebrate the inception, accomplishments, and continued service of our most decorated and illustrious Corps.
Your tireless and selfless acts of heroism and life-saving measures have strengthened not only our Navy and Marine Corps, but the entire world. Upon you is bestowed a sacred trust to assist and care for the sick and injured, supporting the Navy’s mission across the globe on naval vessels, operational units, overseas assignments, foreign embassies, and medical facilities here at home. Cherish and uphold this trust with the utmost pride as the lives that you have saved and the ailments you have cared for have played a significant role in the improvement of our nation. Through these actions you have upheld the reputation and history of the Hospital Corpsmen that have gone before you.
I am proud to have the privilege of wishing the more than 30,000 Hospital Corpsmen serving today a Happy Birthday, and also to say thank you for upholding the prestigious Hospital Corpsman Pledge. My words cannot express how proud I am of you; it is an honor to serve at your side. Happy Birthday Shipmates!
“We commend and celebrate the inception, accomplishments, and continued service of our most decorated and illustrious Corps.” Follow the link to read Vice Adm. Faison’s #HospitalCorps birthday message. #NavyMedicine https://t.co/8yqfP6LHWP pic.twitter.com/ykzNgCBvKT
— Navy Medicine (@NavyMedicine) June 14, 2019
Annual Birthday Balls are held by U.S. Navy bases around the globe to commemorate the occasion.
Naval Health Clinic Quantico in Quantico Base, Va. held their annual Birthday Ball at The Clubs at Quantico and Crossroads Events Center on June 13 where they held a traditional colors ceremony and cake cutting.
@NHC_Quantico hosted the 121st @USNavy Hospital #Corpsman #BirthdayBall at @TheClubsatQuantico and Crossroads Events Center, June 13.
Attendees celebrated the Hospital Corpsman birthday with a colors ceremony and traditional cutting of the cake. pic.twitter.com/kPjKNUIrYw— MCB Quantico (@MCB_Quantico) June 17, 2019
The U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery headquarters in Falls Church, Va. held a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate the birthday.
Happy birthday Hospital Corps! HM3 Danielle Giard receives a piece of cake from HMCM Victor Alonzo during a cake cutting ceremony for the 121st birthday of the Hospital Corps at U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. pic.twitter.com/kXvqy3YBDj
— Navy Medicine (@NavyMedicine) June 17, 2019
The San Diego Hospital Corpsman Ball Association hosted the 121st Hospital Corpsman annual Birthday Ball at the Bahia Resort Hotel in San Diego, Calif. on June 15.
Hospital Corpsman at Camp Foster in Okinawa, Japan celebrated the birthday on Monday with a new event that they hope to hold annually — the Corpsmen Challenge.
The challenge included the sailors with the 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group involving three teams of six and five stations set up for casualty evacuations, liter carries, and knowledge competitions, according to DVIDS.
“We hosted this event because we want to continue corpsman heritage and raise pride amongst our Sailors,” Navy Hospital Corpsman David Wright said. “We want it to be held each year before the Corpsman Ball so that way we can add some anticipation to the ball, that is where we are going to announce first place winner from today.”
