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My name is Rocco E. Giambrocco and I live at P.O.Box 154 Ashby,MA 01431. I served with 'M'Company, 3rd Bat. 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division during the Vietnam War.
I met 'Doc' Bowman when I joined the Company in 1968. He was our Corpsman and he saved many lives.
In early May 1968 our Company headed up a heavily fortified and occupied position known as Hill 1192. I was walking point and discovered the first signs of the enemy encampment - a small hut with a tunnel under it, a smoking fire and some cooking food, clothes and four enemy soldiers. Our point element, myself and two others, attacked and killed three and observed the fourth enemy crawl into the hole.
The rest of the Company came to the position and after checking the tunnel and finding that it went on for what seemed forever, we continued up the hill. After about ten minutes we started down a ridge and I was shot, and so were several other men at the same time.
This was to be our position for days. We fought the enemy and he picked us off - one by one. 'Doc' went out under fire and pulled to safety several Marines. He treated their wounds and then went out after more. Eventually 'Doc' was wounded.
This did not deter him from his duty. 'Doc' went out again and again. he was then hit a second time, just as he had reached a wounded Marine out in the open. Twice wounded, 'Doc' continued to work on this Marine, who could not yet be moved to a safer location and we all laid down as much cover-fire as we could for him.We were so drastically outnumbered.
As 'Doc' worked rapidly , he ignored his own injuries. I glanced up at one point and saw him shield the body of that Marine as a hail of automatic gunfire rained down upon them. Then 'Doc' kneeled back up and continued tending to the wounds. Another Corpsman reached them and began to help.
Within a matter of a few seconds there was another burst of automatic fire in their direction. This time 'Doc' was hit for the third time. He kneeled for a second, then slumped over the Marine he had been trying to save. 'Doc' was dead. This put a fear in me that I had never had before. I saw 'Doc' as an "untouchable" - he saved lives.
What 'Doc' did that day deserved the highest honor that our Nation could bestow. I do not know if he ever was awarded anything, but he deserved it for sure.
'Doc' was a very smart man. He knew the bush, he knew the enemy, and he knew his job. He had a great sense of humor and he was always ready to help when he was needed. He was the best medical assistance any Marine could have hoped for. He had a combination of courage, focus, and a strong sense of duty and honor.
May 9, 1968 was a single day in a week that I will never forget. 'Doc' Bowman was a man that lost his life while saving a life. I miss him and I honor his memory.
I will visit The Wall May 13-15, 2000 and find his name, along with the names of the dozens of other men who died on that Hill in 1968. I will remember 'Doc' as the bravest man I ever knew - and that remains so to this day.
God Bless you , 'Doc', and thank you for all that you gave to those of us who lived because of your courage and honor.
Rock Posted by: Rocco E. Giambrocco Email: ndhs@net1plus.com Relationship: We served together Sunday, May 7, 2000
