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USS Saipan Supports Marines Ashore Operationally and Emotionally

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030407-16
Release Date: 4/7/2003 4:07:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class Abigail Krueger, USS Saipan Public Affairs

ABOARD USS SAIPAN, At Sea (NNS) -- After the initial growing pains subsided, Sailors and Marines aboard USS Saipan (LHA 2) formed close bonds in the two months between leaving Norfolk, Va., and the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. And with nearly all the Marine units phasing ashore for combat, a strong spirit of loyalty to them has grown among those still on the ship.

Nowhere was this allegiance more evident than on the evening of March 30 in Saipan's medical department. What began with Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (FMF) Moses Gloria's personal desire to help his Marines, turned into a full-blown charity effort, which raised nearly $400 for Marines on the beach in a little more than an hour.

Chief Hospital Corpsman (NAC/FMF) Scott Reid is one of 38 corpsman attached to 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC) team. The CASEVAC team is a newly-formed 9-1-1 service for troops on land, composed of highly-qualified Navy corpsmen who have aircrew experience and are trained in emergency medicine.

CASEVAC corpsman are currently running 24-hour shifts flying aboard CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, bringing casualties from land to ships theater-wide equipped with emergency medical facilities.

"Gloria brought it to my attention that the Marines ashore were running low on or didn't have certain things. I mean they have the basics-- beans, bullets and band-aids-- but they've been eating Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) every day, and he thought they could use a pick-me-up to lift their spirits," explained Reid. "I figured since I am on Saipan anyway due to my own injury, I could help out by getting some special items together for them. We started collecting money internally between the CASEVAC guys, but the word spread quickly."

Within 30 minutes, Reid had a handful of money and was on his way shopping.

Chief Hospital Corpsman (FMF) Suzanne Ivey, who embarked aboard Saipan with Casualty Receiving Team (Shipboard) 8 out of Jacksonville, Fla., was also involved in the effort. "I usually talk to Gloria whenever he gets back to the ship to ask him how things went on the beach that day," she explained. "He told me that some of his guys were trying to take fresh fruit out to the Marines and that he was thinking about taking up a collection to buy them some snacks and toiletries. My people never hesitated. They jumped right on it and started handing out their money to help."

In no time, word got out to more people on the ship and crew members were coming to medical at random to donate money for their brethren ashore.

"It was absolutely amazing. We went down to the ship's store after we had collected some cash and people just kept coming down and giving us more while we were shopping," Reid said. "There were people standing in line outside who were handing money in the door to us. I've never seen anything like it."

"The Sailors working in the store were a lot of help, too. They gave us boxes to package everything up and followed us around with a calculator to let us know how much we were spending," he added.

Among the items in this huge care package were beef jerky, various candies, toiletries and cigarettes. "We tried to put anything in there that wouldn't melt and that would bring a smile to their faces," Reid said. "Of course as corpsmen, we don't like to promote smoking, but if it makes them feel better out there and relieves some of their stress, than we're all for it under the circumstances.

"A lot of people on the ship wish they could do more for the Marines on the beach. I think this was just one way they could show their support," continued Reid. "It's a perfect example of teamwork and how we are all one big family, pulling together to look out for each other."

Saipan's medical and dental departments are currently gathering personal hygiene and dental kits to send out to the Marines in the near future.

While many Sailors await their own packages from home, the care packages for the Marines were flown off Saipan at daybreak March 31, and CASEVAC corpsmen planned to disburse them in landing zones as they stopped to pick up casualties.

"The whole reason we did this is to spread a few smiles among the troops ashore. Our job is to provide good medicine in bad places, and it's not always an easy one. Under these tough circumstances, the least we can do is try to find ways to keep their spirits up, even if it's just them knowing that everyone back on the ship is supporting and thinking about them," Reid said.

"Not a single person had a second thought about giving their money," said Ivey. "The only question was 'what more can we do to help.'"

The crew aboard Saipan continues to fulfill their mission-- providing medical and logistical support-- while their shipmates fight ashore. And if sparing a few bucks can brighten someone's day, then there is plenty more to go around. After all, they brought these Marines thousands of miles across the world and until they can bring them back home, they will do the next best thing -- care.