In Greek mythology the caduceus was an attribute of Hermes, the herald or messenger of the gods. The symbol’s hallmarks are two snakes or serpents intertwining a staff capped by a pair of wings. For Navy Medicine, the caduceus was once worn by warrant officer-pharmacists in the early years of the Hospital Corps it has also adorned the uniforms of the largest enlisted rating in the Navy since 1948. This includes the Army Medical Department which has utilized the caduceus since the nineteenth century and its Medical Corps has worn the caduceus since 1902. One study found that 76 percent of American healthcare organizations used the caduceus as part of their branding. Outside of the Red Cross the caduceus is arguably the most recognizable “medical” symbol in the world. “We carried which I didn’t like at all because they marked us as Corpsmen.because of this, we were told to carry side-arms not as offensive weapons, but for self-protection.” Pharmacist’s Mate First Class Stanley Dabrowski once noted that Corpsmen at Iwo Jima were often singled out because they looked and behaved differently from Marines. But even without these markings Corpsmen have been identifiable because of their actions on the battlefield. Early in World War II, at battles like Guadalcanal, Red Crosses marked the helmets and brassards worn by Corpsmen making them prime targets for enemy snipers eager to shift the tide of battle. The Red Cross has also been a symbol used by the Navy Hospital Corps and before 1948, Corpsmen wore Red Crosses on their uniforms. To date, only one Red Cross-marked hospital ship has been attacked by an enemy combatant-USS Comfort (AH-6) off of Okinawa in May 1945. It can be argued that the Red Cross has done its job in identifying and protecting hospital ships. Thereafter, in accordance to the Geneva Conventions, all hospitals ship-regardless of service or country of origin-were to be painted white with Red Crosses on the “sides, superstructures, stacks and decks for identification purposes.” Today hospital ships USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort are each marked by nine Red Crosses. Red Crosses did not appear on hospital ships until after 1899. However looking at photographs of the ship in 1898 you will not find a Red Cross painted on its hull. hospital ship to fly the Red Cross flag denoting its role as a non-combatant in the Spanish-American War. In 1898, the Navy’s USS Solace (AH-2) became the first U.S. Owing to the misperceived connotations as a religious and mediaeval heraldic symbol carried into battle by Crusaders, the Red Crescent and Red Crystal were later adopted as alternative symbols that carry the same meaning. ![]() ![]() It is the inverse of the Swiss national flag and a nod to his country’s long history of neutrality. The symbol was originally designed by Swiss humanitarian and founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross Henry Dunant. Under the Geneva Conventions, medical providers who wear the Red Cross are protected in armed conflicts. But where did these symbols come from? And why were they adopted?Īcross the globe the Red Cross (or Geneva Red Cross) is the universal symbol of impartiality and medical assistance. Throughout its history, Navy Medicine has continually leveraged these powerful communication tools to create a service and mission identity. Images of triumphant eagles and fouled anchors and the colors “blue and gold” abound throughout the Enterprise connecting us to big Navy. Red Crosses emblazon our white-hulled hospital ships. Oak leaves, acorns and caducei adorn the collars and sleeves of Navy medical personnel.
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