Navy Corpsman

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Comment by Cindy on April 24, 2009 at 12:21am

Hey, any of you, I need help. I've been trying to find out what the acronym PAC and UIC stand for as a corpsman, but I've had no luck at all. (Remember HeeHaw? "Gloom, despair, agony on me...") Sorry, regressing. Anyway, Morgan is to report to 1st Mar Div FMF PAC UIC: 67448 on May 21st. I've looked at corpsman.com, but it didn't help. Then again, if I'd get online earlier than 11 pm it might help! I'd appreciate any help or thoughts I can get. Would love to know.

Comment by Cindy on April 10, 2009 at 6:20pm

That's an awesome story. He'll never forget that first save and I'm happy that it was a child and not one of our guys having been hurt. I hope you know what I mean.

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on April 10, 2009 at 5:23pm

great reading:

Corpsman Gives Gift of Life on His Birthday
Story Number: NNS090410-01
Release Date: 4/10/2009 12:51:00 PM


By Lance Cpl. Antwain J. Graham

MASBATE PROVINCE, Republic of the Philippines (NNS) -- A hospital corpsman, with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40, saved the life of a Masbate province toddler, who nearly drowned after falling into a pool at the Bituon Beach Resort April 6.

On what started as a normal birthday for a U.S. Navy Seabee Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Christopher Thomas, soon became the day he was deemed a hero for saving 19-month-old Maria Fe Issabelle Fernandez

"I had never saved a life before, and the moment felt surreal," said Thomas, who is from The Woodlands, Texas.

Thomas was returning to the resort from working with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and fellow Seabees when Equipment Operator Constructionman William Hardwick raced over and grabbed him.

"I didn't know exactly what to do, but I saw the doc [Thomas] and immediately ran to get his help," Hardwick recounted.

Once Hardwick led Thomas to the child, who was unconscious, the corpsman took charge of the situation, and his medical training kicked in.

"I held her in my arm and gave her back thrusts to force the water out of her," said Thomas, who explained the child wasn't breathing due to water in the lungs.
"After about seven attempts to get her to breathe, she started coughing and then crying… then I knew she was ok."

Thomas asked the family to rush her to the local hospital.

Maria's grandfather, Manuel Inventor, explained she wandered away from their home, located on the resort, and over to the pool by herself. Inventor found the girl floating facedown in the water, pulled her out and called for help. Hardwick, who happened to be nearby, came running to the screams of onlookers and recognized he needed the help of a trained professional.

After the child was released from the hospital and returned to her family, they contacted the Seabee unit to thank Thomas and let him know Maria was doing well.

"We are so thankful to him for what he did," Inventor said. "I realized soon after, had it not been for the U.S. forces being here in the first place, my granddaughter would not still be here."

Though the lifesaving procedure took about eight minutes, Thomas said for him, the time felt like only a few seconds.

"The whole thing was a blur, but I didn't hesitate when I heard what happened," Thomas said. "I just got my head in the zone and did what I had to do."

Thomas said he didn't feel like a hero because he was simply doing his job.

"I can honestly say this is the best birthday gift I've ever gotten," he said.

Thomas, the AFP and members of NMCB 40 are currently constructing a water well in the Sawang Barangay of Masbate province as part of Balikatan 2009.

For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40, visit www.navy.mil/local/nmcb40/.>

Comment by Daniel Melia on April 4, 2009 at 6:04pm

Hey, Checking back in after the unexpected meltdown. I guess we are all subject to the whims of computer programming. My son, HM3 Daniel T. Melia, is now somewhere (op. sec.) along the western Euphrates with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine regiment, Headquarters and Services Co. He spent 2 hectic weeks at Pendleton and shipped out at the end of Jan. The 2/1 now has some pictures up on their website, but not of his Co. I have urged him to take some and have them posted [they seem to be checked for info potentially useful to bad guys.] He had wanted to be posted to one of the patrol infantry Cos. but seems to be settling into the BAS (battalion aid station--the 4077 MASH in my imagination). They spent about 3 weeks in the desert before their present posting and he now appreciates showers and floors. They also have pretty good communications, for the present, anyway, and Daniel has been able to phone a few times. He mainly communicates via facebook which allows him to send messages almost daily to his parents and friends simultaneously. ["Doc Melia" if you are on F-book.] I have found Motomail and the Marineparents.org website useful. A little while ago he changed his facebook "handle" from "Dan Melia" to "Doc Melia" which I took as a milestone in his relationship with his Marines. A few weeks ago he posted (excitedly, I think) that he had had his first "No shit, Medic-up! emergency call," which I guess he handled well (details are lacking--op.sec.) For those early in this path, I think that Daniel has been challenged and gratified by going HM, "greenside" and IA. We keep in touch and pray that he stays safe.

Comment by Cindy on April 4, 2009 at 3:23pm

Richard ~ I had a quick texting conversation with Morgan earlier. He said while he's in chow line they'll say 'excuse me doc' or 'doc would you pass the salt'. I told him he didn't know how happy I was to read that! He is a good kid with a very compassionate, kind heart so any Marine platoon that gets him are going to be very lucky or fortunate or blessed...whichever way you choose to look at it.

Comment by Richard Russo on April 4, 2009 at 2:55pm

Cindy your son will have no problem hanging around with Marines. Sometimes the younger/newer ones may give him a hard time but if their are any Marines around that have been in for a while those young Marines will be taught how to treat Doc quickly.

Comment by Ron on April 4, 2009 at 2:11pm

Hi all, wow I was surprised to see everything gone from the Group. I am looking for a post that I THINK was in here, from a lady that said she had a group that were looking for names & addresses of deployed Corpsmen (to Iraq/Afgan), to send care packages to them. I have gathered a list of corpsmen names from my son (in Iraq) but now can't find the name or site for this generous gal. Anyone recall that post? Thanks for you help. Ron

Comment by Cindy on April 4, 2009 at 12:56pm

Randall, Thank you so much. I only get whats given to me from other corpsman mom's who are in the same place I am. It's comforting to me to know that my son will be taken care of and I've no doubt he'd take care of his guys.

Richard, thank you as well. I'll be relying on you two to help me get through Morgan's first deployment...whenever that will be. I'm just looking forward to giving him a kiss on the cheek and a big hug in May.

Hey! Does it help if he's already got a Marine friend there? His best friend at 3 yrs of age is about 5 min away from Morgan's room. Are many Marine/Navy friends seen together? Thinking of a corpsman going with a friend to a Marine San Diego haunt out.

Comment by Dennis on April 4, 2009 at 8:49am

Still here.
Son leaves for RTC in October don't know if that will change. He has asked his recruiter to speed it up if he can. So for now not alot to add but appreciate the information from those that are ahead of us.

Comment by Richard Russo on April 4, 2009 at 2:56am

Speaking as an FMF Corpsman for the 3rd Marine Div. for 5+ years I can say that your son is in good hands. Their isn't a seasoned Marine out their that doesn't have GREAT respect for their DOC. They know that if Doc isn't safe neither are they. I'm sure your son will enjoy his time with his Marines and trust me when I say his because after a while they will be a close family and in most cases what Doc says goes.

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