Doc! the Adventures of a Navy Hospital Corpsman

by Sullivan, Hugh

• ISBN13: 9781555717728
• ISBN10: 1555717721
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2014-09-01
• Publisher: Hellgate Press

Summary

DOC! is the story of Hugh Sullivan, who began his military career in 1961 when he enlisted in the South Carolina National Guard. Later that year, he joined the U.S. Navy in order to “escape the cotton mill way of life” that awaited most of the young men who grew up in Hugh’s town.

Trained as a hospital corpsman, Hugh—or “Doc” as Navy corpsmen are often called—served two tours in Vietnam in 1965 and again in 1966. Afterwards, he made a career out of the Navy eventually retiring after thirty-nine years active duty with the rank of captain and an impressive collection of medals and awards.

What happened in between enlistment and retirement—including his time served during Operation Desert Storm in the 1990s—is a story of perseverance and determination, and a lesson in how to succeed in the military despite the politics and egos one encounters on the way up through the ranks.

Author Biography

Hugh C. Sullivan, Jr., Captain, United States Navy (Ret) was born in Columbia, South Carolina, on 4 November 1942. His military service began in February 1961 when he enlisted in the South Carolina National Guard. His active naval service began in June 1961 and he served sixteen years enlisted service. Hugh is a graduate of George Washington University where he received a BS degree in Hospital Administration, Pepperdine University where he received a Master of Arts Degree in Human Resources Management, and the Armed Forces Staff College.

His awards include twenty-two Campaigns and Service Ribbons and Medals, and the Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with four Gold Stars), Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Enlisted Good Conduct Medal (with three Gold Stars) and the Combat Action Ribbon. Captain Sullivan was the 1998 recipient of AMSCON (Association of Medical Service Corps Officers of the Navy) Captain Clarence Gibbs Navy Annual Leadership Award. He was the first Plans, Operations and Medical Intelligence Officer (POMI) to receive this award.

Hugh is married to the former Wanda Perdue. They have three daughters and three grandsons, and currently reside in Tampa, Florida.