This is my first day on here and I am so pleased and proud to find it.
I spent my time 1969-1974 active, from Orlando Boot to San Diego Corps School, CHELSEA Naval Hospital, Senior Corpsman of Ward 14, Dirty Orthopedics and then Camp Lenjeune 2nd Amtracs, Force Troops, Camp Lejeune.
Have been in healthcare ever since as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. I gave my first breathing treatment in 1970......
Thank you All for your Service!!!
Curt Hiller, HM3
Replies
Hello and good to be counted among other HMs!! Graduated 13 November 1981 The best thing I ever did was getting started in Navy Medicine! Retired from Mil in 2012 but still serving as that is what they trained me for!!
Hi Curt, Thanks for your service and glad to have you aboard. I was in the Navy/Marines from 1967-1971 so we are closely contemporaries. Spent one year at USNH Camp Pendleton Ward 30 (Urology) then EENT before Viet Nam. Spent my short Viet Nam time with the First Bn, Fourth Marines, 3rd MarDiv. We were part of the pull out that went to Okinawa and trained for a BLT off the coast of Korea. After that tour I spent one year with the 3rd Marine Air Wing at El Toro, CA. Got out and went to nursing school and then worked for 34 years as a Registered Nurse in cardiac surgery. I find it unique how many Corpsmen stayed in the medical field after discharge. I am in contact with 44 of our Corps school group out of 62, San Diego. We have One MD, 8 registered nurses, PhD at the NIH in Washington, one dentist, one Lab MSC officer, three retired Chief Hospital Corpsmen, one OR tech, one ambulance and EMT tech. Several others went on to become policemen.
Spent a day in San Diego at Balboa Park last week (5SEP12) and noticed a lot of men and women in military uniforms. Asked one what was going on and he explained that they were all new chiefs promoted that day from all the Navy and this was their ceremony. I was enthusiastically excited to start shaking hands and offer congratulations. (They all look so young) They were all so respectful especially when I told them I was an HM-2 from the Viet Nam era. They immediately pulled out a new Chief Hospital Corpsman to shake my hand. It was a proud moment to be there on this day.
Thanks again for your service and Welcome Home Shipmate,
Terry Schiele RN
HM-2
Hats off to you as well Curt. Just got back from breakfast with a couple of Docs from our shared era. They're still in health care and solid members of LA County MRC units. Still dedicated and ready to sacrifice for others.
Good luck in all endeavors.