Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, Il

U.S. Army•127 members

Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, Il Homepage Photos Members

Relive and share the memories of your service-time with your brothers and sisters in arms today. VetFriends.com can help you reconnect.

Did you proudly serve in the Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, Il?

Are you looking for someone who is or was in the Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, Il?

Do you have Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, Il photos you'd like to share?

Then join a community with your brothers and sisters of the Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, Il.

Branch

U.S. Army

Members

127

About Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, Il

The Hospital Corps School at Great Lakes, Illinois, was established in 1913 to train enlisted personnel of the United States Navy in medical skills, forming the backbone of the Navy’s Hospital Corps. Throughout the World Wars, Korean War, and Vietnam War, the school rapidly expanded, preparing tens of thousands of Hospital Corpsmen to serve with distinction both ashore and alongside Marines in combat zones. Renowned for its rigorous training, the school emphasized both medical proficiency and readiness for battlefield conditions. In 2011, the Hospital Corps School at Great Lakes was closed, and training was consolidated with other military medical training programs at the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC) in San Antonio, Texas.

Unit Members

Hunter Lambert

U.S. Navy

Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, IlView Profile

Francis Bourrie

U.S. Navy

Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, IlView Profile

Photos

Basic Training Picture

U.S. Navy • 1959

taken December 2013

U.S. Navy • 1959

U.S. Navy

Airborne School

U.S. Navy • 1965

About Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, Il

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• Established in 1913: The Hospital Corps School at Great Lakes, Illinois was founded in 1913, making it one of the oldest technical training schools in the U.S. Navy. • World War I Surge: During World War I, the school trained thousands of Hospital Corpsmen to meet the urgent need for medical personnel on ships and in field hospitals. • Women in the Corps: The school began training WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) as Hospital Corpsmen during World War II, marking a significant step toward gender integration in Navy medicine. • Massive WWII Expansion: At the peak of World War II, the school operated around the clock, graduating more than 20,000 students annually to support the war effort. • Notable Alumni: Many Medal of Honor recipients, like William D. Halyburton Jr. and Robert R. Ingram, began their medical training at Hospital Corps School Great Lakes. • Vietnam War Support: The school played a pivotal role in training Corpsmen who served alongside Marines in Vietnam, where they were often referred to as "Doc" and known for their bravery under fire. • Modernization in the 1990s: In the 1990s, the school underwent major curriculum updates, incorporating advanced medical simulations and technology to enhance training. • 9/11 Response: After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the school adapted its curriculum to include training for mass casualty and chemical/biological warfare scenarios. • Consolidation and Closure: In 2011, the Great Lakes school was closed as part of a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, consolidating Hospital Corpsman training at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. • Legacy of Honor: Over its nearly 100-year history, Hospital Corps School Great Lakes trained more than 100,000 Corpsmen, leaving a legacy of service, sacrifice, and lifesaving skills that impacted generations of Navy and Marine personnel.