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C Medical Company, Third Force Support Group, Third Marine Division, abbreviated “C-Med,” or as it was more commonly known at the time, "Charlie Med," stood on about half an acre, composed of all tents; there was no running water, and power only came via a portable generator. It was staffed by about six general surgeons, four orthopaedists, one neurosurgeon, six general medical officers (MDs who have not had a residency) and four anesthesiologists. Additionally, about 30 Navy corpsmen were available to function as nurses. The camp was surrounded by armed Marines in foxholes 24 hours a day. All post-operative patients were picked up by helicopters at 6 a.m. every day for air evacuation via Air Force medical transport planes that carried them 1,100 miles to a state-side-quality Air Force hospital in the Philippine Islands.
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