PRESERVING A MILITARY LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
The following Reflection represents SP 4 Tom Hirst’s legacy of their military service from 1969 to 1971. If you are a Veteran, consider preserving a record of your own military service, including your memories and photographs, on Togetherweserved.com (TWS), the leading archive of living military history. The Service Reflections is an easy-to-complete self-interview, located on your TWS Military Service Page, which enables you to remember key people and events from your military service and the impact they made on your life.
Of all the medals, awards, formal presentations, and qualification badges you received, which one(s) are the most meaningful to you and why?:
“What is that?” asked the person parked next to me in the “VETERANS ONLY” parking space at Home Depot.
“That’s the COMBAT MEDICAL BADGE,” explaining my vanity license plate. “It’s the Army Medic’s version of the Combat Infantry Badge.”
“I’ve seen some of the other Florida license plates, with medals and stuff, but I’ve never seen that one. I was in the Air Force.”
“You had to be in actual combat to get this award. It’s kind of rare.”
” Thankfully, I didn’t have to do that!” He says, “Thanks for your service.”
“I got drafted! You were smarter than me. You joined the Air Force!”
Anyway, that’s the way the conversation usually goes…….
I was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division when I arrived in Vietnam. My MOS was 91A10, “medical corpsman.” I could have been assigned to a “Battalion Aid Station,” a “MASH Unit,” or even a hospital,” but I wasn’t that lucky.
I ended up being assigned to Charlie Company 1/12th, replacing the 3rd platoon Medic who had completed his “6 Month Tour”. It was my 25th day “In Country,” and now “I’m Humpin’ the Boonies!”
Charlie Company was a “Front Line Infantry Company” consisting of 100 soldiers engaged in “Search & Destroy” missions. They spent several weeks at a time in the jungle, looking for the enemy. There were 3 platoons and the “Command Group”. Each platoon had its own Medic, and then the Medic with the most “Time in the Bush” was assigned to the “Command Group.”
That meant that there were only 4 Medics to care for 100 soldiers. Every one of these “Grunts” would earn their “Combat Infantry Badge,” but there would only be 4 “COMBAT MEDICAL BADGES” awarded. That’s why I feel this award is kind of “Rare.”
The criterion for this award is:
“The individual must perform medical duties while simultaneously being engaged by the enemy.”
Having survived my 6 months “Tour in the Bush,” I proudly display my Combat Medics Badge vanity license plate along with my “Vietnam Service Ribbon” and my “1st Cavalry Division [Airmobile]” insignia on the back of my RV as I travel around the United States.
You never know; this might get me out of a traffic ticket someday!
“That’s How I Roll!”
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Thank you for your service! I was also with C Co 1/12th for 3-1/2 months (late Dec’70-Apr’71). I cannot recall my platoon, but I remember well those three week missions. When I first arrived in Bien Hoa after the 25th Division went home without me, I was asked my MOS .I replied 11-Charlie. I was immediately told that I was now 11-Bravo. The next morning I was on a resupply chopper to join my new unit.
Our platoon medic had red hair and was from New Jersey. I cannot recall his name. You guys were just ‘Doc’ to all us grunts.
Combat medics were the most respected men in the company. Thankfully, I was never in need of your services, but I witnessed many courageous actions by medics in the bush. Thank you again!!