R 191311Z JUN 09
ALMAR 019/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/111TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. NAVY HOSPITAL CORPSMAN RATING//
POC/D. SERRANO/HMCM/UNIT:HS/NAME:CMC/TEL:703-614-4477//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, I EXTEND HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE U.S. NAVY HOSPITAL CORPS UPON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 111TH ANNIVERSARY.
2.  SINCE 1898, MARINES HAVE ENJOYED A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HOSPITAL CORPSMEN.  FROM BELLEAU WOOD IN FRANCE DURING WORLD WAR I TO GUADALCANAL, PELELIU, AND IWO JIMA IN THE PACIFIC DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR; FROM PUSAN, INCHON, AND THE CHOSIN RESERVOIR IN KOREA TO THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM; AND FROM THE DESERTS OF IRAQ TO THE MOUNTAINS AND HIGH PLAINS OF AFGHANISTAN, YOU HAVE BEEN THERE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR MARINES.
3.  IN COMBAT OR GARRISON, YOU PROVIDE EXTRAORDINARY CARE TO MARINES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AROUND THE WORLD.  WE TAKE GREAT COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT OUR "DOCS" WILL CONTINUE TO BE AT OUR SIDE.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR PROUD LEGACY AND MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, IT IS FITTING TO PAUSE AND RECOGNIZE YOUR FELLOW CORPSMEN WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATION.  
4.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, SHIPMATES, AND SEMPER FIDELIS!  JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//