"It was a privilege to be aboard the submarine and take care of the men."
Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer First Class Albert A. Marion, USN
The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the April 2018 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Navy Veteran, Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer First Class Albert A. Marion. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer First Class Albert A. Marion at the USS Spinax SS-489 reunion at Daytona Beach Florida in the fall of 2017.
Albert A. Marion enlisted in the United States Navy during the Second World War and was ordered to Farragut Naval Training Station located in Northern Idaho. Upon completing his training, Marion was assigned to Hospital Corpsman School at the same facility. He would conclude his Second World War Service at the Seattle Naval Hospital and would be discharged in 1946. After facing difficult times, he reenlisted to provide for his family and was assigned to the Naval Hospital in Astoria Oregon for three years working in the surgery department. Marion then received orders to Camp Pendleton and participated in extensive training before being ordered to Korea during the war. His service in Korea would last nine months. Marion shared, “When I got to Korea, the war was over with and I was a company Corpsman...we lost a lot of guys from frostbite...and then they shipped me back to the states with the whole Marine Division.” His next assignment was lab school in Bethesda Maryland where he would receive additional medical training. After additional shore duties and advanced medical training, he was ordered to Submarine School in New London Connecticut. After completing Submarine School and having extensive medial training, Marion’s assignment was to the USS Spinax SS-489.
When reflecting on his time aboard the USS Spinax, Marion shared, "it was a privilege to be aboard the submarine and take care of the men." The crew would give him the nickname of “Doc,” which would remain with him through today. Marion shared detailed stories of his service aboard the USS Spinax as a Hospiral Corpsman and his memories during the WestPac cruise. A number of the Veterans who were interviewed at the USS Spinax reunion, shared memorable stories of Doc, their gratitude, and deep respect.
Part One Joining the Navy, Memories of Farragut Naval Training Station, and Service as a Hospital Corpsman During World War Two
Part Three Service Memories on the USS Spinax as a Hospital Corpsman “Doc”
Part Two Service as a Corpsman during the Korean War
The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Navy Veteran, Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer First Class Albert A. Marion, featured within this series titled, Stories of Service, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at https://www.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service.