“Doc”

We never used his name, we just called him “Doc”,

He was my outfit’s Corpsman when I hit the Rock.

Like the one’s before him, kept us all on track,

From Iwo to Khe Sahn, they always had our back.

Held Sick Call for the slackers, gave out APC’s*,

Mecuricome got slapped on all the skinned-up knees.  

Never gave a lecture when you caught the clap,

But after the injection, he gave y’er butt a slap.

One day we loaded up, shippin’ out fer ‘Nam,

He gave us all another shot, Gama Globulin.

Gonna’ fight those Commies, over in a flash,

Then we’ll all get drunk, with that combat cash.

 Didn’t go so well, but Doc, he kept us sane,

Always patched us up, with sumpin’ for the pain.

“Son I know y’er nerves are shot, all I got’s a pill,

Sit here for a minute, then git back up on the hill.”

I wasn’t there to see it, flew back into the World,

They said he was a hero, as the battle whirled.

Crawled out into the wire, to drag the wounded in,

Pulled one into safety, then went out agin.

AK’s rattle deadly, he never gives a care,

All the walkin’ wounded, he patches up right there.

Battle lines are shiftin’, finds a Viet Cong,

Bandages up his wound, no it isn’t wrong.

“Leave that body layin’, ferget them golden teeth,

Put that damn ol’ K-Bar back into its sheath!”

Maybe war is hell, but not when Doc’s about,

He took a higher path, of that there is no doubt.

LDT July 10, ‘21

Dedicated to all the Navy Hospital Corpsman who served with the United State Marines.

Twenty-two Corpsmen have earned the Medal of Honor, most while supporting their Marine buddies. Six hundred and thirty-nine Hospital Corpsmen were killed during the Vietnam War alone.

*APC-A cure-all pill containing Aspirin, Phenacetin and Caffeine.

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