FMF    CORPSMAN

The Navy called them Corpsmen, Though they'd seldom seen a ship;
Their major tools of battle, They carried on their hips.
Trained to go with field Marines, In every clime and place;
They risked their lives most every day, With compassion, skill and grace.
Where they found these people, I'll never understand;
A breed apart from other men, Serving in this foreign land.
To hear the cry of "Corpsman", Would chill you to the bone;
As these brave men came running up, Unarmed and all alone.
They saved the many wounded, And stood along their side;
Without these valorous Corpsmen, A lot more would have died
We dearly loved our Corpsmen, And defend them to this day;
As much Marine as Navy, They served a special way.
When they get to heaven, And streets filled with Marines;
We'll call out for our Corpsmen, And show them all our scenes.
ANCHORS AWEIGH ***** SEMPER FIDELIS
By Chuck Hall

Roger  "Doc" Rodman
1968 Boot Camp

Roger "Doc" Rodman  1970 FMF

LT. Roger  Rodman
2008

Matthew "Doc" Meyer

A Corpsman's Prayer

Grant me, oh Lord, for the coming events;
Enough knowledge to cope and some plain common sense.
Be at our side on those nightly patrols;
And be merciful judging our vulnerable souls.
Make my hands steady and as sure as a rock;
when the others go down with a wound or in shock.
Let me be close, when they bleed in the mud;
With a tourniquet handy to save precious blood.
Here in the jungle, the enemy near;
Even the corpsman can't offer much lightness and cheer.
Just help me, oh Lord, to save lives when I can;
Because even out there is merit in man.
If It's Your will, make casualties light;
And don't let any die in the murderous night.
These are my friends I'm trying to save;
They are frightened at times, but You know they are brave.
Let me not fail when they need so much;
But to help me serve with a compassionate touch.
Lord, I'm no hero -- my job is to heal;
And I want You to know Just how helpless I feel.
Bring us back safely to camp with dawn;
For too many of us are already gone.
Lord bless my friends If that's part of your plan;
And go with us tonight, when we go out again.
                                                                 Author Unknown

The Corpsman's Oath

I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE MYSELF BEFORE GOD
AND THESE WITNESSES
TO PRACTICE FAITHFULLY
ALL OF MY DUTIES AS A MEMBER OF
THE HOSPITAL CORPS.
I HOLD THE CARE OF THE SICK AND INJURED TO BE A
SACRED TRUST
AND WILL ASSIST THE MEDICAL OFFICER
WITH LOYALTY AND HONESTY.
I WILL NOT KNOWINGLY PERMIT HARM TO COME TO
ANY PATIENT.
I WILL NOT PARTAKE OF NOR ADMINISTER
ANY UNAUTHORIZED MEDICATION.
I WILL HOLD
ALL PERSONAL MATTERS
PERTAINING TO THE PRIVATE LIVES OF
PATIENTS IN STRICT CONFIDENCE.
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.