Medics and Corpsman in WWII
One of the unsung heroes of World War II was the combat medic.
First to answer the call for aid, and often facing the enemy
unarmed, he was part of the foundation of the medical system during
the war. The combat medic responded on short notice, adapting
quickly to current circumstances to administer first aid to a
wounded soldier - sometimes under direct fire.
With medical training one of the highest priorities, medics were
trained with infantry soldiers, learning how to best use the lay of
the land for their protection and that of the wounded soldier.
Highly respected and easily identified was the Red Cross symbol
on the medic's helmet or arm band, which inadvertently became a
conspicuous target for enemy snipers. The combat medic's main
objective was to get to the wounded as quickly as possible and move
him away from the front lines. Climbing out of the relative
protection of the fox hole, the medic sometimes came under fire as
he crawled into no-man's land to help a fallen comrade. At the
war's beginning the medics were often ridiculed, sometimes being
called "pill pushers," or worse. In combat, however, that attitude
drastically changed as they gained respect from all ranks. When a
soldier cried out "Medic!" there was no hesitation, and they were
eventually referred to as "Doc."
Medics and corpsman who served diligently on the
battlefield, at sea, and in the air, demonstrated their compassion
on a daily basis for millions of servicemen. The reason for
countless medical successes was the speed and skill with which the
medics initially treated the wounded.
Excerpts from: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1719.html