This page is being dedicated to all the Navy Corpsmen who served in Hotel 2/5 during the Vietnam War. This page is under development and will be expanded as we receive information about our “Docs”.
Every combat Marine has heard the cry, “Corpsman Up !!!!” The phrase, “Corpsman Up!” speaks volumes. The name “Corpsman” separates our combat corpsmen from the rest of the Navy; especially if you were an 8404 Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Corpsman. The circumstances varied widely, but the result was a constant. A U.S. Navy Corpsman, wearing the same dirty, torn, and smelly green utilities worn by his Marine brothers and “armed” with his B-1 medical kit, went to the aid of wounded Marines. Usually under enemy fire, these “angels in green” performed lifesaving miracles with complete disregard for their own safety.
These FMF (Fleet Marine Force) Corpsmen were something special to us Marines. Although they took their fair share of kidding and good-natured harassment, they were in every sense of the word a fellow combat Marine. They took the same chances, lived in the same mud-filled hole, and ate the same cold C-rations as us Marine grunts.
The Marine Corps, the amphibious arm of the U.S. Navy, relies on U.S. Navy corpsmen, nurses, and doctors for medical services. Corpsmen assigned to the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) attend Field Medical Service School before joining combat units. Their training includes familiarization with small arms, basic combat skills, and treatment of combat wounds. When not engaging in a firefight, patching us up or getting blasted with incoming mortars, our corpsmen also provided basic necessities and medical care to civilians around us.
Like us combat Marines, our corpsmen also fought heatstroke, malaria, fatigue, rain, leeches, insects, rust, and fungus. They too lived in the dirt, slept in holes they too had to dig that provided some protection from enemy mortars, or slept on the ground, fearfully.
They too marched without apparent purpose in chilling northeast monsoon rains, suffered heatstroke with the arrival of the southwest monsoon, pulled leeches from their legs, ate little but field rations, slept little, fungus on their bodies, and fought rust on their weapons. Corpsmen ran more than any other human in the Vietnam War, to get to us when we were hit.
A special thank you to all of our corpsmen! You treated most of us and medivaced more of us than you could count. You challenged us to take our salt and malaria pills and constantly nagged us to get our feet and socks dried out. At a young age, you’ve had to witness and experience horrific atrocities that no one should ever have to witness at any age. Without your sacrifice, we may never have returned home but bled-out there in the jungles and rice patties of Vietnam. Thank you for always running to patch us up, giving us a cigarette and a word of encouragement. To all combat corpsmen, “Semper Fi” (Always Faithful) and “Semper Frater” (Always Brothers), we love you!
OUR HOTEL 2/5 DOCS
Name | Date Served | Nickname |
Dale Alin | 1967 | Doc |
Dennis Casey | 1968-1969 | Doc |
Tim Cobb | 1967-1968 | Doc |
Dennis Cuftic | 1969 | Doc |
Ken Howard | 1968-1969 | Doc |
Hank Kleinot | Doc | |
William Mc Nulty | 1970 | Doc |
Ernie Messick | 1969 | Doc |
Dennis Noah | 1967-1968 | Doc |
Al Pysher | 1969 | Doc |
Ted Ralls | 1969-1970 | Doc |
Rob Rood | 1969 | Doc |
Joe Sonderman | 1968-1969 | Doc |
Roger Ware | 1967 | Doc |
Ron White | 1968 | Doc |
Rudy Wirgau | 1969 | Doc Rudy |
Please leave a comment and the name of your corpsman serving with you. If you have contact information about a corpsman, please contact ltyler@hotel25vv.org and provide him with that information. Thank you.
11 Comments
Doc, you took care of me when I was wounded on April 17, 1969 when I was hit in the leg. The only thing that I regretted was that I wasn’t able to go on my R and R until 1996 when I went to T. Taiwan. Naturally it was not the same but some pf the old men said, Hi GI, and offered me food. Thanks
My name is Chester Sobczak ( Chesty), I have left a Comment on another page but I will leave one here also.
I served with Doc McNulty from March 1970 to August 1970, that is when I went home.
After I was home I received a letter from Sargent McCaulsen that Doc had been Killed, it broke my heart to hear this because of all the good times I had with Doc and how he help me when I was a week from going home how he kept me out because of the jungle rot I had in my leg.
Also Jim Tocherman filled me on how Doc got killed he was there when it happened, on the patrol in the village where it happened with Stare and Strips doing a story on booby traps when it happened, Taco told me the story was never written about booby trap.
Doc you will be in my heart forever.
Semper Fi
I am the proud niece of William F. McNulty (aka. Doc Mac; Petty Officer Third Class H&S CO, 2ND BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF United States Navy) who was KIA on August 9, 1970 in Quang Nam Province. My father is his identical twin brother. I found this site while doing an online search for more information about him and his band of brothers. I welcome any of you who knew him to reach out to me with stories, pictures, etc. Though my dad is now well into his 70’s, he lost a part of himself back in 1970 when his brother died. I would love to be able to give him the gift of more memories/friendships of his other half. Thank you for your service. I hope you get this message and are able to respond.
I too served with Doc McNulty. I was in 3rd platoon Charlie squad. Doc was truly a hero. He was a very caring person who put others needs first. He was always there for everyone with a positive attitude. It was a sad day for all of us when we lost Doc. Corpsman were truly the unsung heroes.
Regards,
Frank Tyner
Frank did you know Taco Eddie or Tex.
We lost Taco and Tex is on his way out with Cancer, he has only 14 to 15 months to live.
Your name does not sound familiar, did we know each other.
I left Nam before Doc got killed, Sgt. Mac wrote me a letter about Doc.
Did you know Skip Quick ir Dave Crittenden??
Frank you can e-mail me at csobczak@prodigy.net
I am the proud niece of William F. McNulty (aka. Doc Mac; Petty Officer Third Class H&S CO, 2ND BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF United States Navy) who was KIA on August 9, 1970 in Quang Nam Province. My father is his identical twin brother. I found this site while doing an online search for more information about him and his band of brothers. I welcome any of you who knew him to reach out to me with stories, pictures, etc. Though my dad is now well into his 70’s, he lost a part of himself back in 1970 when his brother died. I would love to be able to give him the gift of more memories/friendships of his other half. Thank you for your service. I hope you get this message and are able to respond.
On September 30th, 1968 both my corpsmen were killed within 15 minutes of each other in a firefight with NVA in Quang Nam Province near An Hoa. I was the platoon sgt of the Third Platoon, Hotel 2/5. Gary Shepperdson was from Ann Arbor, Michigan and Phillip Beasley was from Boise, Idaho. Both were great corpsmen and both good friends. Remembering them and their sacrifice this month. Don Alexander
I am sure I speak for all H Co. Docs that serving with our Marines was the highest honor of our lives.
Doc Noah
I was a Corpsman with Hotel company in 1970. An Hoa…first pause. Can not remember what patoon. Was one of the last out of there when we pulled out. Went to Baldy if I remembr correctly then was transfered to First Med in Da nang.