The Most Popular Soldiers

Medics were very popular, respected and very appreciated men in the company. Their weapons were first aid kits; their place on the line was whenever a man called out when he was wounded. Here are 2 combat medics taking cover somewhere in the Battle of the Bulge.

According to the Geneva Convention it is a War Crime to Shoot at a any Medic wearing the Red Cross Insignia. In the WW2 European Theatre this rule was used and most were not shot, but not in the case of being in the Pacific. I always wonder in WW2 if Medics were to use a Firearm what happened to the Rule of Protection ?

Medic uses a weapon he is disqualified from protection. Enemy occupies a church and fires from it, the church's protection is lost. The rules are there for protections, not abuse by one side or the other.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Medic uses a weapon he is disqualified from protection. Enemy occupies a church and fires from it, the church's protection is lost. The rules are there for protections, not abuse by one side or the other.

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Thanks Aragorn...I was watching a Video about WW2 Battles in Europe and was looking at medics without firearms...and wonder if they used a weapon what happened to there protection... I didn't even think about the Church. Thanks for Replying some information I was wondering about. I didn't really see anything about it on the Internet.

Frank

In some cases the red cross became a bullet magnet as take the medic out to deprive a wounded soldier of critical aid, bit like the stretcher bearers in WWI going into no mans land though a different era I am not so sure by 1916 - 1918 the same sort of chivalry existed from 1914.

Some info for you;
Combat medics (also known as medics) are military personnel who have been trained to at least an EMT-Basic level (16 week course in the U.S. Army), and who are responsible for providing first aid and front line trauma care on the battlefield.

Is it a war crime to kill a field medic?
According to the Geneva Convention, knowingly firing at a medic wearing clear insignia is a war crime. In modern times, most combat medics carry a personal weapon, to be used to protect themselves and the wounded or sick in their care.

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Originally Posted by CINDERS

In modern times, most combat medics carry a personal weapon, to be used to protect themselves and the wounded or sick in their care.

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For a fact, when I was younger I asked the medics why they had a SMG 9MM C1 on them in the field...and one answered exactly that. They were carrying to protect the Surgeon and their wounded patients in dire situations. Remember the Japanese were not observers of the Geneva Convention during the war. I of course speak of times 30 years after in my experiences. Sentryduty will be able to update on Afghanistan during this recent conflagration...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Sentryduty will be able to update on Afghanistan during this recent conflagration...

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During the Afghanistan deployment (CDN) medics were certainly armed, typically with a basic C7A2 rifle, however there may have been exceptions as to the exact hardware they might have, perhaps a carbine in some circumstances. During peacetime and training at home they usually had a Browning pistol, however overseas I know they had a rifle, and I would have to look at my photos and see if our "DOCS" (slang for a medic) still maintained the pistol or not.

The Geneva Convention is an often cited and often misunderstood agreement in modern times, and (as an armchair war lawyer/participant) it mainly only applies to those who have signed when formally fighting another signatory. However, we always conducted ourselves as though we were fighting another signatory group, however the insurgents did what ever they felt like. Our Medics were afforded no special protections from the enemy, and as far as I seen, the insurgents never wore a uniform, nor did they delineate their field care givers or other non-combatants. These are important aspects of the Conventions of course.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Enemy occupies a church and fires from it, the church's protection is lost.

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On paper yes, in reality, a lot of water has to go under a lot of bridges before the authorization to destroy a church (mosque), school, orphanage, hospital, or any other protected target despite the obvious fortification and use as an enemy stronghold.

Battle of Panjwaii - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote below are from:
The Battle For Panjwai: A Soldier’s Story - Legion Magazine

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For the afternoon task, we moved out and got into position quickly. We took notes and really got to memorize the area. There was nothing going on, but we noticed that the glassless windows of the school had been boarded up since we had been there last.

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The Afghan police and the first group of troops reached the school at 1203 hours. They cleared the school and confirmed it was empty. Then the enemy opened up. Initially there was RPG fire to the south, aimed at 33C. Then the school was enveloped by dust and smoke from over 30 RPGs. I recall seeing a wall of smoke and dust from explosions. In front of it I remember seeing Afghan police running towards safety, and through it you could make out Canadians running forward towards the enemy.

The enemy was firing from all around us, 270 degrees around the school. And there were a lot of them. I personally counted over 60 RPGs in the first five minutes. Then the enemy fighters entered the back rooms of the school. There was some violent close fighting going on with the troops in the school until they withdrew to the school’s outbuilding. In this building were no more than 15 Canadian soldiers.

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At this time the CO was on the radio asking for artillery. All I heard was that it had been denied by higher up. I was a bit stunned at this, but thought nothing more of it.

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We picked up enemy talk of hitting us again with four waves of a hundred men each. This is not nice to hear when ammo is running low. It was 1545 hours. Finally, we had authorization for artillery, and it was certainly welcomed. Incredibly, as the rounds were flying through the air from Patrol Base Wilson, an American pilot in his B-1 bomber flew only a few hundred feet above the ground—twice—as a show of force against the enemy. He had no bombs, but had heard the fight on the all-informed net, and wanted to help. It was beautiful, and scared the hell out of the Taliban.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

For a fact, when I was younger I asked the medics why they had a SMG 9MM C1 on them in the field...and one answered exactly that. They were carrying to protect the Surgeon and their wounded patients in dire situations. Remember the Japanese were not observers of the Geneva Convention during the war. I of course speak of times 30 years after in my experiences. Sentryduty will be able to update on Afghanistan during this recent conflagration...

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Thanks Jim...That's what I was wondering if the Medics were issued a sidearm in WW2 the Medic can only use it for protection, but did the Geneva Convention still protect the Medic. I know that they would get picked off for the reason to not being able to help the wounded. I wonder how it does works in today's conflicts. Thanks

Frank

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Originally Posted by Sentryduty

During the Afghanistan deployment (CDN) medics were certainly armed, typically with a basic C7A2 rifle, however there may have been exceptions as to the exact hardware they might have, perhaps a carbine in some circumstances. During peacetime and training at home they usually had a Browning pistol, however overseas I know they had a rifle, and I would have to look at my photos and see if our "DOCS" (slang for a medic) still maintained the pistol or not.

...snip...

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My medic buddy told me that the CTOMS sling was the best he every used on his C8 carbine...

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Originally Posted by Lee Enfield

he every used on his C8 carbine...

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There confirmation of the medic carbines.

I guess it's also prudent to preface my comment as being a snapshot in time, loadouts and equipment varied wildly during our total time in Afghanistan, I can usually tell the tour based on the location of uniform pockets, patches, and general gear.

A carbine was a rather uncommon item during the first few months of my tour in 2006, but looking at later tours they seem to be quite prolific. Short barreled C9's; during my time the only short barrels were "field modification" or otherwise obtained, but on later tours there was actually an authorized short barrel issued.

Uniform pockets for example are found in 3 major variations, during the tours. 2 breast pockets no sleeves, 2 breast pockets, locally tailored sleeve pockets, and then production sleeve pockets with Velcro patches. The ballistic eyewear also changed, etc etc.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

For a fact, when I was younger I asked the medics why they had a SMG 9MM C1 on them in the field...and one answered exactly that. They were carrying to protect the Surgeon and their wounded patients in dire situations. ...

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I was once introduced to an American during my time in Vietnam who had won the Medal of Honor during the Korean War doing just that. I was told he stood in the doorway of the surgical tent with a rifle and held off an entire unit of North Koreans. When asked he said it was because "the surgeon had the keys to the jeep and he wasn't leaving until he finished operating on the soldier he started working on when everyone bugged out and I was too tired to run".