Best medical in the surface navy

Again apologies for the lack of posts. Work hours have sucked for the past few weeks. Computer access has sucked as well because of the long hours.

Anyways, we just went through INSURV...the do or die of inspections of the surface navy. Basically if you fail this inspection, the CO, XO, and CHENG ( Chief Engineer) get relieved for due cause, and the ship risks decommisioning. Well, ladies and gentlemen. We blew it out of the water. And on top of that, the medical department was cited as "One of the best put together in the whole navy." That would lead to my head only getting bigger.

Anyways, if you couldn't tell already, Im fucked up beyond belief. I'll hurt in the morning, but who cares, eh? It's five o'clock somewhere.

Take care everyone...Until next time, huga and kisses for all!!!!!!!

Sometimes change is a good thing

So...I can't really talk about all thats going on here. It's tough and exhausting. Sean, If you still read and check in on me I envy you. You don't have to paint shit, or stand watches. You dont go to work in the dark and come home in the dark. But on the other hand, I wouldn't want it any other way. This is the best duty I could have wanted. I will learn so much. To those of you I have lost due to my inactivity, I apologize. It's rough when your not used to this. The hours should improve in a little while so keep checking back. In the meantime I've started up my own fotopage at http://usndoc150.fotopages.com/ . Check it out and leave comments. I'm messing with my self timer right now to get more pictures of me in my civilian clothes. So stand the frick by!!! Love ya all.

On the coast of somewhere beautiful

Knew I could never hold that girl
She was born to see the world
All I got is a picture she mailed me
Barefoot in the snow white sand
A bag of sea shells in her hand
She finally found a paradise it seems

On the coast of somewhere beautiful
Trade winds blowin through her hair
Sunlight dancin on the water
And I wish I was there
Don’t know how I’m goin’ to find her
All I know so far
She’s on the coast of somewhere beautiful
Runnin’ with my heart

Sometimes whne the sun goes down
Shadows fall across this little town
And I close my eyes and I drift away
To another place in another time
When the world was ours and she was mine
I dream of holdin her again someday

On the coast of somewhere beautiful
Trade winds blowin through her hair
Sunlight dancin on the water
And I wish I was there
Dont know how I’m gonna find her
All I know so far
Shes on a coast somewhere beautiful
Runnin with my heart

Dont know how I’m goin to find her
All I know so far
Shes on the coast of somewhere beautiful
Runnin with my heart
Ohh she’s runnin with my heart
On the coast of somewhere beautiful

A Story To Think About

In August of 1942, the first major USMC assault landings against the Japanese Empire occurred in the Solomon Islands, Pacific. The island chosen for the invasion was Guadalcanal.

As they moved inland, four Marines were walking point into the jungle. Advancing into an open area without cover, they came under heavy fire from the entrenched Japanese. All four Marines were wounded but managed to crawl into a shell crater, about fifty yards from where they had emerged from the jungle.

A Hospital Corpsman ran from cover into the crater with the wounded Marines, and ran back to cover, under fire. Having dressed the wounds of the Marine, he sprinted back for another, only this time he was hit. Not stopping to dress his own wounds, he carried the second Marine to cover receiving a second wound. After giving aid to the Marine, the Corpsman was hit for a third time going into the crater. Staggering toward the treeline with the third Marine, he was again struck by enemy fire.

When the third Marine's wounds were dressed, the Corpsman started after the last Marine in the crater. The Corpsman still had not stopped to care for his own wounds. In a final valiant effort, he stumbled toward the crater, where he was brought down by concentrated enemy machine gun fire. He lunged forward into the crater falling across the fourth Marine, finally giving up his life.

Reaching up to his own bleeding wounds, the Marine wrote on the back of the Corpsman's bullet riddled shirt,
"WHERE ANGELS AND MARINES FEAR TO TREAD, THERE YOU'LL FIND A CORPSMAN DEAD."

This was that dying Marine's final tribute to his shipmate's supreme sacrifice in fulfilling his oath, "TO AID THE WOUNDED, IN THEIR MOMENT OF NEED."

A Corpsman's Prayer

Grant me, oh Lord, for the coming events;

Enough knowledge to cope and some plain common sense.

Be at our side on those nightly patrols;

And be merciful judging our vulnerable souls.

Make my hands steady and as sure as a rock;

when the others go down with a wound or in shock.

Let me be close, when they bleed in the mud;

With a tourniquet handy to save precious blood.

Here in the jungle, the enemy near;

Even the corpsman can't offer much lightness and cheer.

Just help me, oh Lord, to save lives when I can;

Because even out there is merit in man.

If It's Your will, make casualties light;

And don't let any die in the murderous night.

These are my friends I'm trying to save;

They are frightened at times, but You know they are brave.

Let me not fail when they need so much;

But to help me serve with a compassionate touch.

Lord, I'm no hero -- my job is to heal;

And I want You to know Just how helpless I feel.

Bring us back safely to camp with dawn;

For too many of us are already gone.

Lord bless my friends If that's part of your plan;

And go with us tonight, when we go out again.

Author Unknown

My Prayer

Dear Lord,

There's a young man or woman far from home, called to serve their nation in time of war; sent to defend our freedom on some distant foreign shore. We pray You keep them safe, we pray You keep them strong, we pray You send them safely home ... for they've been away so long. Bless those who await their safe return and those who mourn the lost. Bless those who serve this country well, no matter what the cost.

Back in San Diego

Sorry I've been gone for so long. We got underway a couple of weeks ago, and we don't get internet while underway, Yeah, I know, It sucks. Anyways, It's raining and miserable here. I don't know what I'm going to do today. I'm off, but it's 1135 and I'm still on the ship. I need to get out.

Well, tata everyone

General Quarters, General Quaters, All hands man your General Quarters Stations!!!

Talk about an exciting weeek.

Heck, I died twice yesterday. In the morning we had a security alert, because some stupid civilians drove their kayaks too close to the ship. Later on in the afternoon we had a mainline oil/fuel leak in engineering and we went to General Quarters. That means me and my strecher bearers, by ourselves,mind you in the Aft BDS ready to start accepting casualties if that shit lit off. I was scared. Been on the boat a week and I already was going to be by myself. Luckily nothing happened and it all turned out ok. The engineering guys had a fucking mess to clean up though. Nonetheless, we had an exciting couple of moments yesterday.

Today we had fast cruise, which meant we went through every possible evoulution that we would underway, except that we were still tied to the pier. Unrep, flight quarters, General Quarters, Sea and Anchor. All in prep for our underway period. Can't say when we're leaving or where we're going for Operational Security issues. But seeing as they're starting to urethane the decks outside medical in the P-Way, I need to scamper off. Everyone take care...

Doc

Fun in the Sun....yeah right!

Here I am in Pearl Harbor now. It's been busy the last week I've been here. I've inherited a junk pile from the old Baby Doc that was here. Anyways, hopefully I can get out and see the island here, and get my digital camera some good use to post some pictures.

It's hot here. I wake up and its about 75 degrees at 5 am. I think overall its going to be a good experience. It's about time to get back to work. I wish I had more time to write, but like i said, its busy out here. Talk some more later.

Doc out

Rainy SoCal

First off Happy New Year...

Second...why does Southren California have to be so ugly when I show up!!! Rain??!!?? I can get rain back home in Washington damn it!!!

Anyways, I'm here in San Diego until sunday then I'm off to Hawaii for some fun in the sun. HM1 Bentley, I know it's crazy but hang in there. I'll be there soon!!

No much to talk about right now.

Love you guys!

I swear that I can go on forever again
Please let me know that my one bad day will end
I will go down as your lover, your friend
Give me your lips and with one kiss we begin

Are you afraid of being alone
Cause I am, I'm lost without you
Are you afraid of leaving tonight
Cause I am, I'm lost without you

I'll leave my room open till sunrise for you
I'll keep my eyes patiently focused on you
Where are you now I can hear footsteps I'm dreaming
And if you will, keep me from waking to believe this

Are you afraid of being alone
Cause I am, I'm lost without you
Are you afraid of leaving tonight
Cause I am, I'm lost without you

Are you afraid of being alone
Cause I am, I'm lost without you
Are you afraid of leaving tonight
Cause I am, I'm lost without you

Are you afraid of being alone
Cause I am, I'm lost without you
Are you afraid of leaving tonight
Cause I am, I'm lost without you
I'm lost without you
I'm lost without you
----------------------------------------------

(I miss you, I miss you)
Hello there, the angel from my nightmare
The shadow in the background of the morgue
The unsuspecting victim of darkness in the valley
We can live like Jack and Sally if we want
Where you can always find me
We'll have Halloween on Christmas
And in the night we'll wish this never ends
We'll wish this never ends

(I miss you, I miss you)
(I miss you, I miss you)

Where are you and I'm so sorry
I cannot sleep I cannot dream tonight
I need somebody and always
This sick strange darkness
Comes creeping on so haunting every time
And as I stared I counted
Webs from all the spiders
Catching things and eating their insides
Like indecision to call you
and hear your voice of treason
Will you come home and stop this pain tonight
Stop this pain tonight

Don't waste your time on me you're already
The voice inside my head
(I miss you, I miss you)
Don't waste your time on me you're already
The voice inside my head

(I miss you, I miss you)[x3]
(I miss you, I miss you) [x4]

Due to the nature of our relationship, I cannot mention names here. Although I want to let her know that I still care, and no it's not your fault. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up, especially after what I told her. Love is strong and will persevere, and yes I want to remain friends. Just some feelings I had to let out in the open. I hope to see you soon...

Good to be home for the Holidays

Whew...

Been home now for a few days and have gotten myself settled. Seeing old places and faces again makes me feel good inside. 3 of my old friends are stil here. Chris B. has been down in Fort Sam Houston for OBC. He's now a 2nd LT stationed at Ft. Lewis with the Stryker Brigade as the medical officer (not a Doctor, just a title, as he explained it to me last night). That worries me a little. I knew that there wold be risks involved with being in the military, but it's hard to accept the fact that this may be the last time that you get to spend with someone you grew up with and hung out with for all these years.

Josh D., my best bud... He's stationed on the USS Carl Vinson. He's getting ready for a 'round the world cruise. Good luck there shippey. Haven't seen him yet, but I will.

Adrienne is working an apprenticeship at the shipyard. Haven't seen her yet either, but I will.

The only bad thing about coming home is knowing that you will inevitably have to leave and say goodbye to your loved ones once more, to go do your part to keep them safe. You try not to think about it, but it's always there and that makes the visits that much more cherished. You cherish every second, every moment your with the people that you love.

So helllllllooooooooo Washington!! HELLLLLOOOOOO Port Orchard!!! I'm here to stay for the
next couple of weeks.

As a close, to all my brothers in the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, and Nat'l Guard unable to make it home for Christmas or New Years, keep yourselves safe and sound. You are much thought of here in the states (regardless of what those liberal nitwits say). And if one of you reads this, my email is on my profile. If you want or need someone to talk to, Doc's here. And to all my friends stateside, be thankful for what you have. Because someone else might not have that. And may everyone, whether it be stateside, on the seas, in the air, or on the ground of foreign soil, have a safe, wonderful and Merry Christmas. (Chanukah, Yule, Kwanza, or whatever you celebrate too.)

Goodbye DC, Goodbye East Coast

Well, this is my last post from good ole Bethesda. I've been here two years and it's about time for me to move on. I had several talks from my superiors, chastizing me for my mistakes, however at the same time wishing me luck for the future. I hold no grudges against anyone as I depart this command.

I've met amazing people here and have made friends for life. I will miss every single one of them. Erica, you are such a sweetheart and I will miss you forever, until we meet again!! Colin, your gone from here, but you were the best guy I knew, besides Eric whom I'll get to in a moment. Eric, Congrats on graduating from FMSS!!! You earned and deserve it as much as the next person. Jen R., didn't really get to know you until I was running short on time, but your heart is big and you should follow it always. To everyone that I have had the pleasure meeting, Fair Winds and Following Seas until our wakes cross once more. Take care of yourself everyone.

To the new people I will meet, I present a warning. Prepare for the most shit hot corpsman to grace the decks of your ship. You will be "MY" Sailors and no one elses. I will protect you with my life as if it were my own.

As I close, I want to share with everyone something special to me....

I solemnly pledge myself before God and these

witnesses to practice faithfully all of my

duties as a member of the Hospital Corps.

I hold the care of the sick and injured to be a

privilege and a sacred trust and will assist

the Medical Department Officer with loyalty

and honesty.

I will not knowingly permit harm to come

to any patient.

I will not partake of nor administer any

unauthorized medication.

I will hold all personal matters pertaining

to the private lives of patients in

strict confidence.

I dedicate my heart, mind and strength

to the work before me.

I shall do all within my power to show

in myself an example of all that is

honorable and good throughout my

naval career.

-Hospital Corpsman Pledge

Story of My Life

A Couple Songs that Caught My Attention.....

Welcome To My Life

Do you ever feel like breaking down?
Do you ever feel out of place?
Like somehow you just don't belong
And no one understands you

Do you ever wanna run away?
Do you lock yourself in your room?
With the radio on turned up so loud
That no one hears you screaming

No you don't know what it's like
When nothing feels alright
You don't know what it's like to be like me

To be hurt
To feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked
When you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
And no one's there to save you
No you don't know what it's like

Welcome to my life

Do you wanna be somebody else?
Are you sick of feeling so left out?
Are you desperate to find something more
Before your life is over

Are you stuck inside a world you hate?
Are you sick of everyone around?
With the big fake smiles and stupid lies
While deep inside you're bleeding

No you don't know what it's like
When nothing feels alright
You don't know what it's like to be like me

To be hurt
To feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked
When you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
And no one's there to save you
No you don't know what it's like

Welcome to my life

No one ever lied straight to your face
And no one ever stabbed you in the back
You might think I'm happy
But I'm not gonna be ok

Everybody always gave you what you wanted
You never had to work it was always there
You don't know what it's like
What it's like

To be hurt
To feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked
When you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
And no one's there to save you
No you don't know what it's like (what it's like)

To be hurt
To feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked
When you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
And no one's there to save you
No you don't know what it's like

Welcome to my life

Welcome to my life

Welcome to my life

-Welcome To My Life, Simple Plan

Vindicated

Hope dangles on a string

Like slow spinning redemption

Winding in and winding out

The shine of it has caught my eye

And roped me in

So mesmerizing, and so hypnotizing

I am captivated, I am...

Vindicated

I am selfish

I am wrong

I am right I swear

I'm right

Swear I knew it all along

And I am flawed

But I am cleaning up so well

I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself

So clear

Like the diamond in your ring

Cut to mirror your intention

Oversized and overwhelmed

The shine of which has caught my eye

And rendered me so isolated, so motivated

I am certain now that I am...

Vindicated

I am selfish

I am wrong

I am right

I swear I'm right

Swear I knew it all along

And I am flawed

But I am cleaning up so well

I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself

So turn

Up the corners of your lips

Part them and feel my finger tips

Trace the moment, fall forever

Defense is paper thin

Just one touch and I'd be in

Too deep now to ever swim against the current

So let me slip away

So let me slip away

So let me slip away

So let me slip against the current

So let me slip away

So let me slip away

So let me slip away

So let me slip away

Vindicated

I am selfish

I am wrong

I am right

I swear I'm right

Swear I knew it all along

And I am flawed

But I am cleaning up so well

I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself

Like hope Dangles on a string

Like slow spinning redemption...

-Vindicated, Dashboard Confessional

Moving Up, and Moving On

Well...I think it's about time to get back to blogging. I know it's been a while and for those who have been wondering and worried, I do apologize.

Things came to a head about two months ago and recently again. I've been scrambling like mad to get everything good to go with my transfer and its really is taking a lot out of me. With all the things going on you rarely have time to realize what you have until it's too late. I experienced this first hand about a month ago, when one of my good friends died in a MVA. He was drunk, and thank the lord that no one else was killed. This is also a reason I haven't been blogging of late. I miss him as much as any friend would, and I just wish that I had more time to spend with him. He is truly one of the special ones in my life and he will be missed.

Now on to happier things....

Because of everything thats going on, and the length of time things have taken, my father ( the ret. Senior Chief) decided to give my CMC a little phone call. Apparently the CMC had no clue I had XOI pending and that I was in fact under orders. What happened next suprised me and all of my friends. All charges were dropped, and as of today I have 7 days left here and then I go home till Jan 8.

I report to SFMIC at Balboa NH, San Diego on the 8th and start class on the tenth. After that My class grads on the 14th and I'm off to Hawaii for three years. This is great. I am relishing and soaking up every bit of it. Haze Gray and Underway baby. Real Navy, Here I Come.

And from what I understand, theres some special things in store for me when I get to San Diego...wink wink. Anyways, I hope this finds everyone well and in good spirits full of Holiday cheer. PEACE!!!

Boulevard of Broken Dreams

I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know were it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of broken dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk alone
I walk alone I walk alone
I walk alone and I walk a-

My shadows the only one that walks beside me
My shallow hearts the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Till then I'll walk alone

I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line of the edge
And where I walk alone
Read between the lines
What's fucked up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs to know I'm still alive
And I walk alone
I walk alone I walk alone
I walk alone and I walk a-

My shadows the only one that walks beside me
My shallow hearts the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Till then I'll walk alone

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of broken dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk a-

My shadows the only one that walks beside me
My shallow hearts the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Till then I'll walk alone

--Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Green Day

Photos They Never Show on the News

Sometimes in our everyday lives we tend to forget what's going on elsewhere in the world and that the brave men and women of the service are just like you and I. They have family and friends back home who love them very much and are praying for their safe return. Please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops (land, air, and sea) in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, and around the world. Of all the gifts you could give the US Military, Prayer is the very best one.....

What to do?

First off, apologies to everyone for my neglect in blogging and blog rolling. I've been too busy getting hammered to really have enough time to post a decent post.

I've never been one for politics. Well, I pay attention to stuff...sometimes. The reason I'm talking about this is that I'm starting to doubt my own beliefs. One of my good friends and I got into a discussion about the first set of debates. It seemed that I didn't have any good arguing points to vote for Bush. I based all of my points on the fact that Bush has given us pay-raises every year(hence he takes care of the military) , and his terrorism policies, which I think are pretty much right on. His "Leave No Child Behind" policy looks good on paper, but so did communism. That I'm still thinking about. It leaves too much room for children to slip through cracks in the system, and bases everything on the fact that the child has to care about their education in the first place, something rarely found in inner cities. Also, It penalizes kids in special circumstances. I had the whole "unconditional" 6 absences and fail that class rule in Jr. High and High School. The question still stands that If a child has a serious medical issue and "unintentionally" misses 6 classes because of appointments or because of illness related to that condition, does it still apply?

On the home front, Bush's domestic policies aren't as strong as they should be. What has he done for the economy, except raise interest rates. Is "Big Buisness" the way to go? I'm not so sure anymore. Only if the answers were so easy to see.

In other news, no news. Not necessarily good news though.
Gotta jet,
Peace and Axle Grease
(PS... To Tragic...Axle grease is just that. It's grease that lubes the axle on your car allowing it to spin without metal rubbing metal.)

New Corpsman Group Blog

Hey all you slimy suckers and corpsman lovers!!!

Head on over to Musings of a Few Corpsman, a new group blog that Sean has started where a few corpsman get together and share their sea stories and tall tales!!

In other news, still no word on the XOI thing....I'm really getting sick and tired of this fucking run-around that I'm getting handed down. I talked at length with my HM1 this afternon before I left about what he thinks is going to happen to me. He basically said that its up in the air, because of the fact that the new XO is a mystery to everyone. I expressed to him my fears of not being a corpsman anymore, he replied with encouragement that no one was harmed and that everything was rectified in the end. The intentions never were there to harm anyone. He also reaffirmed that everyone was behind me and the fact that I was a good worker before and have continued to be a good worker since, that I am a "Salvageable" sailor. He said the fact that I've approached all this with a good attitude and done the menial tasks that have been assigned with no complaint weighs on my side. I'm crossing my fingers on this one, but not thinking too much about it right now.

I was supposed to go to the bar at College Park with some friends tonight, but no dice. He called me about half-an-hour before we were supposed to leave and said that he had no room in his car for me. Oh well. I'll just sit and rot my ass off. Up yours!!!

Well gotta fly....
Peace and Axle Grease!!

"Now this is what I call a target rich enviornment"

Well, I went out and bought the Top Gun DVD a couple of days ago and I've decided to dedicate this post to the finest fighter in the Navy's arsenal. Sadly, this year has begun it's decommissioning process. This jet is the Cadillac of fighters and I've decided to go through it's history, the immortilization of this fighter in american pop-culture, and some of my favorite moments from the movie and some more stuff too. So sit back, grab a beer and prepare to enter the 'Danger Zone.'



The History of the F-14 Tomcat

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a United States Navy supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep wing, two-seat strike fighter. The Tomcat's primary missions are air superiority, fleet air defense and precision strike against ground targets.

The F-14 has visual and all-weather attack capability to deliver Phoenix and Sparrow missiles as well as the M-61 gun and Sidewinder missiles for close in air-to-air combat. The F-14 also has the LANTIRN targeting system that allows delivery of various laser-guided bombs for precision strikes in air-to-ground combat missions. The F-14, equipped with Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) is the Navy's only manned tactical reconnaissance platform.

The F-14 entered the fleet in 1973, replacing the F-4 Phantom II. The F-14B, introduced in November 1987, incorporated new General Electric F-110 engines. In 1995, an upgrade program was initiated to incorporate new digital avionics and weapon system improvements to strengthen its multi-mission competitive edge. The F-14D, delivered in 1990, was a major upgrade with F-110 engines, new APG-71 radar system, Airborne Self-Protection Jammer (ASPJ), Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) and Infrared Search and Track (IRST). Additionally, all F-14 variants were given precision strike capability using the LANTIRN targeting system, night vision compatibility, new defensive countermeasures systems and a new digital flight control system. The F-14 is currently scheduled to be retired from the U.S. Navy arsenal in the year 2005. It is to be replaced by the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Super Hornet.

The F-14 is reputedly named for late Vice Admiral Thomas Connolly, whose testimony before the Senate was critical in the cancellation of the deeply flawed TFX project. Ironically, much of the F-14's equipment was re-used from the TFX, including the radar, Phoenix missile, and the Pratt & Whitney TF30 engines.

Statistics of the Tomcat

Description

Role: Fleet Defense Interceptor
Crew: 2, Pilot and Radar Intercept Officer
First Flight: 1970
Entered Service: 1973
Manufacturer: Grumman

Dimensions
Length: 62 ft 8 in
Wingspan: 64 ft 1 in (extended) 38 ft 2 in (swept)
Height: 16 ft 0 in
Wing area: 565 ft²
Weights: Empty: 39,762 lb
Loaded: 68,649 lb
Maximum takeoff: 74,438 lb

Powerplant
Engines: 2 × General Electric F110-400 Turbofans
Thrust: 20,900 lbf each

Performance
Maximum speed: 1,544 mph (Mach 2.34)
Combat range: 576 mi
Ferry range: 2,000 mi
Service ceiling: > 56,000 ft

Armament
Guns: M61A1 20-mm Vulcan multibarrel cannon
Missiles:
6 AIM-54s(Phoenix) + 2 AIM-9s(Sidewinder)
6 AIM-7s(Sparrow) + 2 AIM-9s
2 AIM-54s + 3 AIM-7s + 2 AIM-9s
4 AIM-54s + 2 AIM-7s + 2 AIM-9s
(work in progress....check back for updates)