Medic Impression

[ncff]

General information for those wishing to do a Medic impression


In the book, Uniforms and Equipment of US Army Infantry, LRRPs, and Rangers in Vietnam, 1965-1971 (Schiffer Books, 1999), Paul Miraldi has a number of photos of models displaying the various gear and equipment for different occupations. I only see one late-war depiction, that being of a medic with the 9th ID in 1969.

". . . the post-68 model Aid bag with a distinct grey-green rubberized coating much like the one used for the 67 patern 2-quart canteen cover. The bag was identical to the Korean War era one, except for the rubberized cover, and featured the exact same space allotment for bandages and medical supplies. The case, medical instrument and supply set, non-rigid, number 3, better known as the "aid bag," was carried by all field medical personnel and was filled with supplies according to mission requirements. Typically, these kits contained:

bandages
dressings
Vaseline gause
instrument set
field medical cards
aspirin
antimalarial pills
antihistamine
salt tablets
water purification tablets
bacitracin and tetracaine ointments
and Gelusil,

along with cough medicine and adhesive strips. Still in evidence were components of World War II and Korean War era kits. The pouches for these kits were relegated to service as general-purpose containers for miscellaneous medical supplies.

"Ranges of blood-volume expanders and infusion sets were also available. Glass bottles of normal saline, Ringers' lactate solution and plasmanate were often carried in canteen covers on the pistol belt.

"No LBE is worn [by the model in the book], instead the medic carries everything needed for an extended mission inside his Lightweight rucksack. Connected to the top of the frame is a single two-quart canteen on a D-ring minus the cover, a common practice in the 9th INfantry Division. Worn around [the model's] waist is a cotton M16 bandoleer. Weapon is an M16 rifle, which was not an uncommon thing for medics to carry at this time."
(Miraldi, Uniforms and Equipment, 91-92.

[ncnam]

and it also depended on how long in the bush the troopers were going to be and what kind of mission it was. vietnam became the type of conflict that nothing was by the book. it was a matter of comfort and what you needed to survive the boonies. some medics would carry two medical bags, others would attach buttpacks to their lw rucks. some would carry their 56 gear with extra canteens, to have the extra load capacity, for the injured.

[ncff]

So its more of a personel improvise....rather then WWII where everything was for the most part was the same all around.....thats cool cause i can be unique to myself.

Doc

[ncnam]

yes, you can be unique, just depends on how you want to do your medic kit.