Oldest hospital corspman, HM2 Debra Laorosa, and youngest corspman, HN Demetric Dixon, cut a cake in celebration of the Hospital Corpsman rating's 105th birthday last week. Photo by JO1 Christopher E. Tucker

Happy 105th Birthday To The Hospital Corps

From BMC Mayport

The Hospital Corps was established on March 2, 1799 when an Act of Congress mandated that all Navy ships provide an area where sick and injured men could be brought and cared for by other crewmembers. The term ''Loblolly boy'' was mentioned for the first time in Navy Regulations in 1814, these individuals were crewmembers that were assigned to carry gruel to the sick Sailors aboard ship and assist the ship's surgeon when needed. The first Loblolly boy on record was John Wall, who signed aboard the USS Constellation on June 1, 1798.

Many duties associated with the Loblolly boy were considered bleak but nonetheless; in preparation for battle these task had to be carried out. The Loblolly boy was to provide the cockpit with empty containers to collect amputated limbs, as well as provide containers of coal to heat tar, which was used to stop hemorrhaging. These usually young sailors also provided the Surgeon with buckets of sand, to ensure that the Surgeon did not slip on blood while trying to perform his duties.

The ''Surgeon's Steward'' replaced the Loblolly boy in 1842. This new enlisted rate was first seen on Navy pay charts in 1841, and these individuals usually served on much larger ships. These young men were trained in basic medicine and were more capable of providing support to the Surgeons they so routinely assisted. The Department of the Navy changed the term once more, when in 1842, deciding that ''Surgeon's Stewards'' should be called ''Apothecary''.

On June 17, 1898, President William McKinley, establishing the Hospital Corps as a recognized member of the Medical Department, signed a bill into law. With the passage of this bill, the designation changed again to that of a Hospital Steward, (Chief Petty Officer), a Hospital Apprentice First Class, (Hospital Corpsman Third Class), and finally a Hospital Apprentice.

The next revision in the structure of the Hospital Corps came in 1916, this set the foundation for the current system of rank structure used today. As part of this revision, the rates would be Hospital Apprentice, Hospital Second Class, Hospital First Class, Pharmacist Mates, third second, and first, and Chief Pharmacist Mate, all would wear a red cross on their sleeve. By adding an improved rank structure the Hospital Corps could allow for a massive expansion of personnel.

The Hospital Corps served heroically in World War I, their service and unspoken bond with their brethren, the Marines was unmatched on the battlefield. The 684 personal awards received made the Hospital Corps, the most decorated American Unit of WWI. World War II became the period of the Hospital Corps greatest increase in manpower, and diversity of duty and sacrifice. Hospital Corpsman treated more than 150,000 combat casualties; during this bloody campaign and more than 1,170 Corpsman lost their lives and thousands more were wounded. During the Korean War, 108 Hospital Corpsman were killed in action, and 638 Corpsman Corpsman were killed during combat operations. The bombing of the barracks in Beirut resulted in the loss of 15 Hospital Corpsman's lives. In the Persian Gulf War and Somalia, casualties for Corpsman were minimal, but the sacrifices they made and the lives saved were tremendous.

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. Hospital Corpsman have served courageously on ships and valiantly on the battlefields of every conflict, caring for injured Sailors and Marines. There have been 22 Congressional Medal of Honor award recipients from the Hospital Corps; this is half of all Medal of Honor's awarded to the Department of the Navy. There have been 174 Navy Crosses, 31 Distinguished Service Medals, 943 Silver Stars, and 1553 Bronze stars awarded to Navy Hospital Corpsman since the inception of the Hospital Corps. There have been 14 Naval Vessel's that have been name after Hospital Corpsman, and several hospital's and clinics baring the name of courageous individuals that paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, our freedom. There is no question that several more awards will be presented to Hospital Corpsman currently serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom for their selfless devotion to duty.

Branch Medical Clinic, Mayport hospital corpsman celebrate the 105th birthday of the Hospital Corp with a cake cutting ceremony by the youngest and the oldest hospital corpsman, HN Demetric A. Dixon and HM2 Debra Laorosa.