MCAS Cherry Point  –   Members of the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point community recently gathered to celebrate the birthday of the U.S. Navy’s most decorated rate.

Sailors and civilians celebrated the 123rd birthday of the U.S. Navy Corpsman at a ceremony held Thursday, June 17 at Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point.

 “When called upon to deploy alongside our nation’s warfighters, you bring a unique set of skills to the battlefield,” said Navy Capt. Elizabeth Adriano, commander of the clinic and the ceremony’s keynote address.  “Your subject matter expertise, your dedication to serving your fellow Sailors and Marines and your empathy…make you a critical asset and a force multiplier to every time that you are assigned to.”

In keeping with tradition, the oldest and youngest Corpsman serving aboard the clinic, Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy Mullen and Seaman Jaleana Turcotte respectively, cut a specially made cake during the ceremony. 

“The cry of ‘Corpsman Up!’ sends chills down the spine of everyone most specially the Corpsman.  It is a cry on behalf of the wounded and dying, those most in need of your life-saving skills,” said Adriano.  “Often a Corpsman’s tenacity in crossing the battlefield is only matched by their passion to provide care for their casualty.”

The U.S. Navy Hospital Corps was established June 17, 1898 by President McKinley and remains the service’s largest and most decorated rate.