When we study war in history class, we learn about kings, presidents, and generals. It’s a shame we don’t get to learn about the many everyday people who step up and do extraordinary things, like the medical workers who perform heroically under terrible conditions. Here are a few of those extraordinary people.
1. U.S. Civil War: Mary Edwards Walker
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was the only woman in her medical school class in 1855. Her medical practice floundered because few people trusted a female doctor. Walker volunteered her service to the Union Army, but was not allowed to enlist, so served as a volunteer. She was not allowed to serve as a doctor, either, so she served as a nurse -at first. Walker ministered to the wounded at the First Battle of Bull Run and worked her way into the position of a field surgeon’s assistant. She was awarded an army commission 1863, but was still technically designated as a civilian worker. Walker was taken by the Confederacy as a prisoner of war for several months in 1864 and was accused of being a spy. She continued to serve until the end of the war. In 1865 Walker became the only woman ever to receive the Medal of Honor, for her efforts at the First Battle of Bull Run. After the war, she campaigned for women’s rights, temperance, and even ran for political office -before women even had the right to vote.
2. WW I: John Simpson Kirkpatrick
In 1910, Englishman John Simpson Kirkpatrick was a teenage deserter from the British Merchant Navy who found himself stranded in Australia. He enlisted in ANZAC, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps as John Simpson in 1914 and was designated a stretcher bearer. His medical ship was sent to the Gallipoli Penninsula of Turkey in 1915, during the battle in which 130,000 men died. Simpson rounded up a few donkeys to use in carrying the wounded over the rough terrain, and spent 24 days ferrying casualties from the battlefront to the seashore, often under fire. Simpson and the donkey he named Duffy were called “the bravest of the brave” by soldiers of the various nationalities in Gallipoli. He carried out his rescue missions day after day until he was killed by a sniper on May 19, 1915. Simpson was 22 years old at the time of his death.
3. WW II: Rex Gregor
Twenty-one-year-old Navy Pharmacist’s mate Rex Gregor was assigned to the Marines fighting on the island of Vella LaVella in 1943. Gregor was fearless, retrieving the wounded under fire as a matter of course. In one instance, he raced through Japanese fire to a blazing ship full of ammunition in order to save the medical supplies he needed. In another instance, he could not find a doctor for a Marine who needed an immediate leg amputation, so he did it himself. Later, he got word from a field hospital that his surgery was adequate and the patient would be OK.
4. WW II: Desmond Doss
In 1945, then-Private First Class Desmond Doss became the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor. Doss was a devout Seventh-day Adventist who was willing to serve his country, but refused to kill. He prayed constantly and wouldn’t work on Saturday, with the exception of tending to the wounded. His commander tried to expel him on a Section 8 charge, and the other soldiers resented him. But Doss refused to admit mental instability and proved his bravery as a medic on the field of battle in both Guam and Leyte. The Medal of Honor came for Doss’ actions in Okinawa in May of 1945. Over three weeks of fighting, he retrieved approximately 75 casualties under artillery, mortar and machine gun fire. According to his Medal of Honor citation, on May 21st, Doss was wounded by a grenade while carrying out another retrieval mission. He dressed his own injuries while waiting five hours for someone to retrieve him. Meanwhile, Doss still attended other wounded soldiers on the field, even directing the litter bearers to aid other men first. A sniper then shot him in the arm, breaking the bone. Doss made a splint out of a rifle stock and crawled 300 yards to the aid station. Desmond Doss’ actions were the subject of the 2004 documentary The Conscientious Objector.
5. WW II: John Bradley
Navy corpsman John Bradley was renowned as one of the six men who raised the flag on Iwo Jima and contributed to the most iconic image of World War II. But he shunned the fame that came from that event. He also shunned any recognition of the Navy Cross he earned for heroism on the battlefield, and his family only learned of the award after his death. Bradley enlisted in the Navy at age 19 and became a Pharmacist’s mate. The Marines took him as a corpsman to the islands of the Pacific Theater. On Feb. 21, 1945, he rushed to the aid of a Marine wounded by machine gun fire on Iwo Jima. Under fire, he rigged up an immediate plasma transfusion and bound the Marine’s bleeding wounds, while shielding the patient’s body with his own. Only then did he drag the Marine thirty yards through an enemy barrage to shelter. A few days later, Bradley was on Mount Suribachi for the flag-raising, then was wounded by shrapnel and evacuated.
6. French Indochina: Geneviève de Galard
French Air Force Lieutenant Genevieve de Galard-Terraube went to French Indochina (now Vietnam) as a medevac flight nurse in 1953. In March of 1954, she was stranded with troops in Dien Bien Phu during heavy fighting when her plane was damaged, so she volunteered to work in the field hospital. She was the only female medical worker there. De Galard retrieved fallen soldiers from the battlefield, assisted in surgery, and ministered to the wounded of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, eventually running a 40-bed ward containing the most gravely wounded soldiers. The French considered the battle lost on May 7th, but de Galard stayed until the medical staff was finally evacuated on May 24th. De Galard was dubbed l’ange de Dien Bien Phu (the Angel of Dien Bien Phu) and became a media sensation. You can see her return to France in this video.
7. Vietnam: Charles L. Kelly
Major Charles L. Kelly was a medevac pilot in Vietnam and the Commanding Officer of the 57th Medical Detachment. He flew constant rescue missions from January to July 1964, even at night with low visibility. On July 1st, he was warned not to enter a “hot zone,” but went anyway to pick up the wounded. When asked when he was going to return, he said, “When I have your wounded.” Those words became the slogan for the medevac corps. Shortly afterward, he was shot through the open door and died when his helicopter crashed. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
8. Vietnam: Thomas W. Bennett
Corporal Thomas W. Bennett was assigned as a medical aid to the 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, fighting in Plieku province in Vietnam. On February 9, 1969, Bennett braved enemy fire to pull at least five wounded men to shelter during a battle in the Chu Pa area. He repeatedly retrieved the wounded over the next two days, until he was shot and by a sniper while pulling another wounded soldier towards safety. Bennett died from the wound. Bennett received the Medal of Honor posthumously, presented to his parents by president Nixon in 1970. Bennett had enlisted in the army as a conscientious objector, since he opposed killing on religious grounds, but was willing to serve his country in another capacity -that of saving lives.
9. Afghanistan: Sally Clarke
Lance Corporal Sally Clarke of the British Army was 22 years old and serving in Afghanistan in 2009. A Taliban rocket-propelled grenade hit her unit on patrol in Helmand province, exploding shrapnel three times and wounding eight soldiers, including Clarke. A piece of shrapnel was embedded in her back, but the other soldiers were more seriously wounded. Clarke rushed from one patient to the next, binding up wounds until the soldiers could be evacuated. Clarke refused evacuation herself, as she was the only medic in the patrol unit and felt responsible. She was treated at a nearby aid station. Clarke later received the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.
10. Afghanistan: Monica Lin Brown
Army Spc. Monica Lin Brown was an 18-year-old medic serving the 82nd Airborne in Paktia province, Afghanistan, in 2007. A roadside bomb went off as her convoy was passing, wounding five soldiers and setting their Humvee on fire. Brown ran through gunfire and mortars to reach the solders, who managed to leave the burning vehicle, and shielded them with her body. Brown received a Silver Star for her bravery -and was also pulled out of Paktia because of regulations barring women from combat.
This brief list is far from comprehensive. The many other medical workers who perform heroically during wartime could fill books -and may fill another list like this in the future.
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“Brown received a Silver Star for her bravery -and was also pulled out of Paktia because of regulations barring women from combat.”
wtf. She was doing her job and doing it well – what is the reasoning behind this arbitrary rule???
As a woman and an ex-Army medic, it still infuriates me.
posted by Kelly on 9-22-2011 at 10:47 am
I’m not a military girl, but Kelly–I totally agree.
I looked into Desmond Doss’ story more (via your links), amazing.
posted by Kerri :D on 9-22-2011 at 11:45 am
My grandfather who was a surgeon for the Army Air Corp in the Pacific Theater during WWII would fly along into combat zones even though he was told not to. I don’t believe he ever won any medals, but I am most certain he was instrumental in helping some of those brave men survive the war.
posted by JW on 9-22-2011 at 12:13 pm
That should read Army Air Corps not Corp.
posted by JW on 9-22-2011 at 12:14 pm
@Kelly:
Maybe because the military is concerned about how woman would be treated by enemy soldiers? Throughout history armies raped and brutalized women who got in their way, maybe the US military doesn’t want to risk the same treatment to our women soldiers. Especially in light of how many men in the Middle East view women as inferior, they might treat women far worse then men.
posted by LEAD on 9-22-2011 at 12:23 pm
@LEAD
As a female soldier in Iraq in 2003, I can state that more women were raped by feloow Americans than were raped by Iraqis/Afghanis.
posted by Myra on 9-22-2011 at 12:51 pm
Wonderful information – definitely would like to see more American stories from the first gulf war on… I know military PR would probably be able to supply lots of names and stories…
posted by Trent on 9-22-2011 at 1:27 pm
I am starting a grass-roots movement. Our country (and others) treat our heroes very badly: they get a medal and recognition immediately after their heroism, then become sometimes less than regular citizens.
I propose that we create a “hero card” – think of a credit card good for everything. These heroes should never pay for another meal or drink for the rest of their lives. Rather than fighting them, we should take excellent care of them.
posted by Jon on 9-22-2011 at 1:39 pm
The reason women aren’t allowed on the front lines varies depending on who you ask; basically, like the ban on gays (which just ended!), it’s a legacy of older times when that just wasn’t done.
Some argue that it would hurt unit cohesion, because the men in the unit would feel obligated to protect the women. Others argue that women would not be able to perform adequately, being on average smaller than men, even when presented with the fact that women have to pass the same tests as the men when they enlist. Some still even argue that women aren’t emotionally or intellectually suited to combat, being “nurturers”. There are other variations as well, but it all boils down to this: a belief that the “natural order” has men doing all the fighting and women doing the domestic stuff. It will eventually go the same way as DADT, I believe. But as usual, the US will not be a forerunner in the effort.
posted by Calli Arcale on 9-22-2011 at 4:00 pm
Another name that deserves this inclusion to this list, Pfc. Kenneth Michael (Kenny) Kays served in Vietnam as a medic.
“Pfc. (then Pvt) Kays distinguished himself while serving as a medical aidman with Company D, 1st Battalion, 101st Airborne Division near Fire Support Base Maureen. A heavily armed force of enemy snipers and infantrymen assaulted Company D’s night defensive position, wounding and killing a number of its members. Disregarding the intense enemy fire and ground assault, Pfc. Kays began moving toward the perimeter to assist his fallen comrades. In doing so he became the target of concentrated enemy fire and explosive charges, 1 of which severed the lower portion of his left leg. After applying a tourniquet to his leg, Pfc. Kays moved to the fire‑swept perimeter, administered medical aid to 1 of the wounded, and helped move him to an area of relative safety. Despite his severe wound and excruciating pain, Pfc. Kays returned to the perimeter in search of other wounded men. He treated another wounded comrade, and, using his own body as a shield against enemy bullets and fragments, moved him to safety. Although weakened from a great loss of blood, Pfc. Kays resumed his heroic lifesaving efforts by moving beyond the company’s perimeter into enemy held territory to treat a wounded American lying there. Only after his fellow wounded soldiers had been treated and evacuated did Pfc. Kays allow his own wounds to be treated. These courageous acts by Pfc. Kays resulted in the saving of numerous lives and inspired others in his company to repel the enemy. Pfc. Kays’ heroism at the risk of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.”
This was a portion of the description read when he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The honor did not sit well with him, and he was haunted and troubled for many years before finally taking his own life in 1991. Those of us who knew him before and after his service knew two different people. He came back, but he left everything on that battlefield. (Sorry for the length of this post)
posted by DW Holmes on 9-22-2011 at 6:23 pm
I wrote a paper about the ANZAC role in galipoli a few years ago…J.S. Kirkpatrick was a brave man…he not only retrieved the wounded with his trusty donkey, but also every dead body. His unit continued his mission to retrieve the wounded and dead until everyone of them was returned home.
posted by Zipora on 9-23-2011 at 12:10 am
What about the story of Molly Pitcher from the Revolution?
posted by Megan on 9-23-2011 at 1:45 am
Technically, I believe Molly Pitcher was not an actual medic but rather a civilian (thought to be Mary Hays, nee Mary Ludwid) who took it upon herself to keep the artillerymen supplied with water, both to quench their thirst as well as to moisten the swabs with which they cleaned the bore of their cannon after each shot. According to the story/legend, she then abandoned her self-assigned mission after seeing her husband fall at his post and took over his place in the gun crew during the Battle of Monmouth.
Whatever the circumstances, it is historical fact that she was given a warrant by General Washington as a non commmissioned officer, becoming known as “Sergeant Molly” — a nickname she used for the remainder of her life.
There is another school of thought that says the person we know as Molly Pitcher was instead one Margaret Corbin, wife of John Corbin, who took her falen husband’s place at his cannon during the defense of Fort Washington in Manhattan in 1776 and sustaining wounds herself. She became the first woman in America to earn a military pension (awarded to her in 1779 by the state of Pennsylvania).
-”BB”-
posted by Bicycle Bill on 9-23-2011 at 6:01 am
I knew Monica Brown in Afghanistan, she is a good soldier and medic. She got to meet some interesting people and stayed pretty humble through it all. During that same action, SGT Zachary Tellier burned his hands while pulling the two men out of the burning Humvee for Brown to treat. Then he hopped into a .50 Cal to return fire on the enemy, until he was ordered out because of his wounds. Five months later, he was killed in a firefight. He exposed his position so he could return fire because two of his men were pinned down by enemy fire. Lots of stories that don’t get told in this war, thanks for telling one of them.
posted by Matt on 9-23-2011 at 8:19 am
My grandfather was a medic in WWII. I never got to hear any of his stories because he died before I was born, but his brother (my great-uncle) told me that my grandfather was one of the first Americans to see the concentration camps (I believe he mentioned Bergen-Belsen) by name). My great-uncle said my grandfather didn’t like to talk about what he saw there, which is understandable.
posted by Heather on 9-23-2011 at 11:17 am
Genevieve de Galard is considered the only female legionaire
posted by marc on 9-28-2011 at 11:06 am