Combat medics offer rich history Published May 19, 2009 By Lt. Col. Camille R. Looney 10th Medical Support Squadron U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- "Medic! Medic!" His words rang out, pleading ... trying to be heard over the rumble of the helicopter overhead. Through the smoke and dust, with utter chaos enveloping, he could see the person moving purposely among the fallen. A medic, a healer, but, nonetheless, a warrior. Today, the term "combat medic" is used generically to describe military medical personnel performing their duties in support of combat. There is a rich history of medics on the battlefield, dating back to Napoleon's Army, called "litter-bearers." Recently, the 10th Medical Group set out to capture the essence of combat medical care in the context of The Airman's Creed with a mural painted by Staff Sgt. Jason Martinez, a laboratory technician. Sergeant Martinez began to visualize the scene while deployed to the Honduras. He received input from 10th MDG leaders who were looking for a pictorial representation of the increased deployments in which medical personnel participate. From start to finish, the mural took about 60 hours to complete. The final touches are being put on the canvas to prepare it to hang in the clinic's main lobby. The unveiling will be held on May 28th. Col. Alan Berg, 10th MDG commander, extends an invitation for all to view the mural, saying "This is an exciting addition to the lobby of the clinic, capturing the top priority of any military medic, to be ready to go into harm's way to care for our warriors and defend our nation." Over time and with increasingly more specialized training and technology, medics on the battlefield became critical to troop survival. An article in the March 2009 DefenseLINK highlighted that in today's environment, stating "combat medics serve double-duty when deployed overseas. They must not only be ready at a moment's notice to provide lifesaving medical care, but they also have to be prepared to battle alongside their comrades." Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have raised the awareness of the role combat medics play on the frontlines. The Combat Medic Memorial Statue at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, has become a symbol of military medical personnel in the midst of their work. It's fashioned from a photograph taken by Bill Walling in 1988. A poem written by Linda Lucas Walling often accompanies the photo. There are photographs, poems, prayers, statues and websites dedicated to the combat medic. There is a Combat Medic Association whose motto is, "Medics never stand taller than when they kneel to treat the wounded." From serving in Napoleon's army to World War II, combat medics continue to honorably serve on the battlefield, saving lives in the midst of utter chaos.
Combat medics offer rich history Published May 19, 2009 By Lt. Col. Camille R. Looney 10th Medical Support Squadron U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- "Medic! Medic!" His words rang out, pleading ... trying to be heard over the rumble of the helicopter overhead. Through the smoke and dust, with utter chaos enveloping, he could see the person moving purposely among the fallen. A medic, a healer, but, nonetheless, a warrior. Today, the term "combat medic" is used generically to describe military medical personnel performing their duties in support of combat. There is a rich history of medics on the battlefield, dating back to Napoleon's Army, called "litter-bearers." Recently, the 10th Medical Group set out to capture the essence of combat medical care in the context of The Airman's Creed with a mural painted by Staff Sgt. Jason Martinez, a laboratory technician. Sergeant Martinez began to visualize the scene while deployed to the Honduras. He received input from 10th MDG leaders who were looking for a pictorial representation of the increased deployments in which medical personnel participate. From start to finish, the mural took about 60 hours to complete. The final touches are being put on the canvas to prepare it to hang in the clinic's main lobby. The unveiling will be held on May 28th. Col. Alan Berg, 10th MDG commander, extends an invitation for all to view the mural, saying "This is an exciting addition to the lobby of the clinic, capturing the top priority of any military medic, to be ready to go into harm's way to care for our warriors and defend our nation." Over time and with increasingly more specialized training and technology, medics on the battlefield became critical to troop survival. An article in the March 2009 DefenseLINK highlighted that in today's environment, stating "combat medics serve double-duty when deployed overseas. They must not only be ready at a moment's notice to provide lifesaving medical care, but they also have to be prepared to battle alongside their comrades." Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have raised the awareness of the role combat medics play on the frontlines. The Combat Medic Memorial Statue at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, has become a symbol of military medical personnel in the midst of their work. It's fashioned from a photograph taken by Bill Walling in 1988. A poem written by Linda Lucas Walling often accompanies the photo. There are photographs, poems, prayers, statues and websites dedicated to the combat medic. There is a Combat Medic Association whose motto is, "Medics never stand taller than when they kneel to treat the wounded." From serving in Napoleon's army to World War II, combat medics continue to honorably serve on the battlefield, saving lives in the midst of utter chaos.