Lexington (CV 16) - Naval Cruise Book

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MEDICA D Sick Bay ward. The others are divided, according to their nature, and placed in the compartments surrounding Sick Bay, which are used as wards, Ag soon as all the patients are treated and are made as comfortable as possible, another team is formed for identifying the dead. This team is usually made up of a dental officer, a corpsmen, and the Chaplain. The dead are identified and buried as soon as it is possible. Now that Sick Bay and its functioning have been described, let us consider the corpsmen, or Doc, as he is affectionately known to his shipmates. Contrary to the common belief that his is the best racket on the ship, he rnust fulfill severe qualifica- tions to become a PhM. 'lDoc must not only have a working knowledge of anatomy, physiology, first aid, minor surgery, and thirty or more other subjects, but he must also be a storekeeper, yeoman, ship- fitter, chaplain and deck ape all wrapped up in one package. Since the Medical Department is operated almost independently of the Supply Department, it is neces- sary for Doc to keep his own storerooms, books and ledgers, know his stock numbers, be able to figure stowage space, etc. lf it is essential that the Doctors Gffice be moved into the Clerical Office and vice versa, or that a bulkhead be torn down, and some more shelves be nstalled in the storeroorn, and if the I-lull Depart- .gient says that it is a Navy Yard job to do this and 'vonft take it on, why, of course Doc has to do it. lt seems that all the other departments on the ship have yeomen to take care of their clerical work, but :ict so in the Medical Department. Doc is the guy vvho makes all the entries in the health records, and V t keeps all other records. Why is it that Doc has to be Mr. Anthony for a large number of the crew? Though there are two perfectly capable chaplains aboard, Doc has to ex- plain the entire operation to the party concerned, and he seldom gets further than the beans in the 'ness line before he discovers that the mess cook's wife is going to have a baby, is there anything he can do? , But putting all this foolishness aside, it can justly be said that the Lady Lex may be proud Of her Medical Department. lt has functioned efficiently and smoothly from its beginning, it has seen her and hers through two catastrophes, it has earned HS place in her organization. EP RT W 1 , 4 f-c x in 'XL t an-4 I x. g v ,yd1 75 l

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