Sacrifice, Service Central Theme of NMCP's 115th Hospital Corps Birthday Celebration

Portsmouth, Va. (NNS) -- The Naval Medical Center Portsmouth galley was filled with staff and guests to recognize the 115th birthday of the Hospital Corps on June 17. An unoccupied chair was a rare sight among the large crowd lining the galley walls.

Several speakers talked about the corpsmen's service and dedication. Rear Adm. Elaine C. Wagner, NMCP commander, acknowledged the corpsmen who had given their lives to defend and care for others.

"The selfless commitment and dedicated service in the care and treatment of our sick and wounded Sailors and Marines has defined the Hospital Corps for over a century," Wagner said. "Your dedicated service in (Medical Treatment Facilities) and (Dental Treatment Facilities) around the globe has honored Navy Medicine, and has inspired health care professionals the world over. No other group can match your capabilities, flexibility and your well-deserved reputation for selfless service."

Along with sacrifices, speakers focused on the lives saved by corpsmen. Guest speaker Master Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/AW/FMF) Anna Sanzone talked about events chronicled in a book by Bradley Peniston, "No Higher Honor: Saving the USS Samuel B. Roberts in the Persian Gulf." Sanzone summarized how one man - in this case, a hospital corpsman - turned a disaster into a story of survival.

"The author, also a crew member at the time of this incident, describes the shockwave that hit the ship and described how the shock rippled throughout," Sanzone said.

"'At the time the mine went off, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jim Lambert, the ship's independent duty corpsman, picked himself off the sickbay floor and considered his options.'" Sanzone quoted from the book. "As a result of his commitment to excellence as a Sailor and hospital corpsman, there were no fatalities on that tragic day."

In closing her speech, Sanzone said, "To my fellow corpsmen, especially you young ones, your display of courage is noteworthy. You truly care about your shipmates. You will find that your greatest reward it to know, without a doubt, that your shipmate can trust you with his or her life."

Throughout the celebration there were numerous creeds, personal experiences and courageous stories shared. Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Harold Kyle Aglit concluded the commemoration with an exuberant reading of "Corpsman Up!"

Following the remarks, the Hospital Corps birthday cake was cut by the most senior corpsman, Sanzone, the most junior corpsman, Hospitalman Recruit Steven Dabreo, and CMDCM (SW/AW/FMF) Michael James, NMCP command master chief.

At NMCP, there are 1,582 corpsmen on staff. In addition, there are 29 NMCP corpsmen deployed overseas serving as individual augmentees.

For more news from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, visit www.navy.mil/local/NMCP/.