Hospital Corpsmen Heritage Run/Walk an Exercise in Remembrance

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- In conjunction with the upcoming 115th Navy Hospital Corps birthday, Naval Hospital Bremerton held a 115-Mile Hospital Corpsman Heritage Run/Walk May 25 to honor those corpsmen who have served and continue to serve since 1898.

Participants were asked to run and /or walk for a 'Hospital Corpsmen Warrior' such as a Medal of Honor recipient, a corpsmen killed in action during Operating Enduring Freedom and/or Operation Iraqi Freedom, a currently deployed corpsmen, or even a Purple Heart recipient currently on the staff.

"The goal was to achieve a minimum of 115 combined miles to honor the 115 years of the Hospital Corps, and honor our fallen heroes," said Hospital Corpsman Senior Chief Arne Marin, prime organizer of the Heritage Run along with members of the Hospital Corps Ball Committee, also noting that during 2012 three more hospital corpsmen were lost.

The numbers speak for themselves; Total hours of running: 4 hours, 20 minutes; Total miles completed: 159; Total donations received: $580.00; Total runners: 23 with the youngest at age seven and the most 'seasoned' at 58 years old.

"Senior Chief Marin and his volunteers did a nice job of arranging everything. It was phenomenal the support they provided to make the run a success," said Capt. Iris Boehnke, Director for Nursing Services, who totaled 10 miles.

Participants and mile results are as follows: Jon Waters, 21 Miles; Justin Schacht 20; Anita Ortega 11; Iris Boehnke 10; Leonard Bissa 10; Travis Campbell 8; John Spannuth 8; John Wildi 8; Arne Marin 6; Connie Holgate 6; Jason Brock 6; Nick Lotito 6; Michael Marchante 6; Tim Healy 6; Thad Vann 4; Timothy May 4; Caleb Campbell 4; Elizabeth Brock 4; Dawn Dillow 3; Mackenzie Campbell 2; Keadall Vann 2; Daniella Lovato 2; Jonathan Lovato 2.

"Thank you all that came out to volunteer with the Hospital Corps-Tribute and Heritage Run, including NHB Security. It was truly a success. We thank you all for your personal contribution to the Hospital Corps. Can we beat this number next year? The challenge is on!" added Marin.

Taking part in the event was Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jonathan Waters, one of three NHB corpsmen who have received the Purple Heart, along with Hospital Corpsman 1st Class John Strough, assigned to Branch Health Clinic Everett; and HM2 Derek Richey attached to Branch Health Clinic Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

There is another former-corpsman, Ensign Ryan Gallant, currently a Navy Nurse Corps officer working in NHB's Multi-Service Ward, who also received the Purple Heart for wounds received during his second deployment to Iraq on April 5, 2004.

Marin proposed the 115 Mile Hospital Corpsman Heritage Run/Walk as a interactive way to connect to the legacy of someone just like Gallant, who shared his deployment experience and Purple Heart narrative.

During his deployment from March 11 to August 1, 2004 while serving with 1st Section, Combined Anti-Armor, Team Blue, Weapons Company, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division, Gallant found himself deep in Anbar Province, Iraq. His unit was assigned to patrol Al Qa'im, a town situated near the Syrian border by the Euphrates River with a reputation of being part of a smuggling route and a refuge for foreign fighters. There were many border crossing screenings that were part of the duty. On one desert patrol, when moving on to a higher elevation, Gallant and others had dismounted from their vehicles to seek and detect improvised explosive device(s).

It was during that time when one of the vehicles hit a double-stacked anti-tank mine. The ensuing blast and shrapnel resulted in five casualties along with Gallant, who suffered wrist and ulna fractures. Several were MEDEVAC (medical evacuation by helicopter) due to more serious injuries. No one died. Gallant stayed, helping to treat the other casualties.

"I must have been knocked out and thrown about 15 feet. When I came around I didn't feel any pain, but did notice that my cammies were wet (with blood). With my wrist and arm splintered, my Marines and I managed the others. During that time, running over mines was almost a common experience. Still, we were lucky that we didn't lose anyone. We very carefully picked our way out of there," Gallant said.

Gallant's Purple Heart citation and accompanying information note that he was near his vehicle when it struck the double-stacked anti-tank mine, causing two critical casualties. The blast knocked him unconscious with shrapnel wounds. After quickly recovering, he began treating the casualties to stabilize them for evacuation, wrote Maj. Gen. Richard F. Natonski, 1st Marine Division Commanding General.

Just several days earlier, Gallant's reconnaissance team was ambushed on March 31 by an improvised explosive device with one urgent casualty. When he arrived on scene, the Marine had stopped breathing. Recognizing the signs of a sucking chest wound, Gallant resuscitated, stabilized, and saved the Marine.

A year earlier, Gallant was providing similar medical support for wounded Marines in Iraq as a general duty corpsman from March 21 to August 1, 2003 with the Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was cited for his efforts during combat operations to a wounded Marine who had stepped on a land mine and had life-threatening injuries. He immediately ran through the unknown minefield to the severely injured Marine to provide medical care, as well as provided assistance in helping to treat other wounded Marines until they were all evacuated to higher echelons of care.

"I didn't have much time to think deeply about what just happened. The training kicked in and I reverted back to what I had learned," Gallant said.

"Gallant served as a basic rifleman, logistical security team, traversing through multiple treacherous terrains to provide guardian angel support to protect Marine and Sailors of the Log Train," wrote Lt. Col. M.A. Lopez, U.S. Marine Corps Commanding Officer, on Feb. 15, 2005.

Gallant initial deployment was a complete surprise, pulling him out of Branch Health Clinic Port Hueneme to Camp Pendleton before heading to the Middle East battlefield. He didn't have the luxury of attending the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training, which is now a preparatory requirement within 90 days of any corpsman deploying as an Individual Augmentee. But he did have emergency medical technician/field medicine training, and once deployed Iraq gave him daily on-the-job training.

"I went through the Combat Life Saver course, along with training in security escorting, quick reaction force training, roadway and search support training. I got a little bit of everything," said Gallant, adding that every corpsman should constantly and continually increase their knowledge at every opportunity.

"A corpsman can be pulled at anytime, anywhere, to do anything, and we have to be ready. It's our obligation to be ready when that call comes. I recommend every corpsmen learn as much as you can now. Take as much training as you can, then pass along what you know to your Marines. They're your second hands," Gallant said.

Whenever there was any down time on deployment, there was always impromptu training. As a corpsman serving with the Marines, Gallant picked up tactical, strategic, and armament knowledge and he would reciprocate by teaching such topics as emergency first aid and trauma management.

"I was confident that by conducting regular training if anyone got injured they would have been handled even if I wasn't there or was badly wounded," said Gallant.

Although it has now been almost nine years removed from being wounded in Iraq, and his uniform insignia is now the Navy Nurse Corps single oak leaf instead of the Hospital Corpsman caduceus, it's the Purple Heart ribbon that brings attention. Almost every beneficiary that served during the Vietnam War and/or Korea War that Gallant currently treats always notices it. The Purple Heart ribbon is part of his legacy of upholding the Hospital Corpsman creed and unspoken bond of treating their fellow injured and ill service members.

"When any older patient asks me about the Purple Heart, I share with them and they share with me. Our older generation from our previous wars really knows what a Purple Heart stands for," Gallant said.

Especially when earned by a corpsman, for many have paid the ultimate sacrifice in upholding their duty.

The Hospital Corps is the only enlisted corps in the military and is also the most decorated group of enlisted men and women. Since being established on June 17, 1898, corpsmen have been recognized with 22 Medals of Honor, 174 Navy Crosses, 31 Distinguished Service Medals, and 946 Silver Stars. There are 22 ships named in their honor. Branch Health Clinic Everett honors one of the Medal of Honor recipients by being named The David R. Ray Health Center, Naval Station Everett.

There are currently 486 HM's stationed at Naval Hospital Bremerton - with 10 forward deployed not counting Pacific Partnership 2013 - out of nearly 25,500 on active duty, and another approximately 640 on Reserve Full time Support strength.

For more news from Naval Hospital Bremerton, visit www.navy.mil/local/nhb/.