Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Shayla Hamilton | SAN ANTONIO (Aug 13, 2020) Retired Master Chief Donald "Doc" Mason, San Antonio...... read more read more
SAN ANTONIO (Aug. 13, 2020) – In collaboration with the San Antonio Chapter of the Legion of Valor and Naval Medical Forces Support Command (NMFSC), Sailors assigned to Navy Medicine Training Support Center (NMTSC) hosted a building dedication ceremony to commemorate Hospitalman John E. Kilmer, who served as a hospital corpsman with the U.S. Marines during the Korean War.
The Student Activity Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston (JBSA-FSH) was renamed “Kilmer Hall” on Aug 13, a date that will forever live in the hearts of the Navy Hospital Corps. On August 13, 1952 while in combat, Kilmer exhibited heroism by providing aide to wounded Marines. He was mortally wounded after using his body to shield an injured Marine from enemy fire.
“Today, Navy Medicine Training Support Center and the Legion of Valor will honor Hospitalman John E. Kilmer, who sacrificed himself in order to save those around him in the Battle of Bunker Hill in the Korean War,” said Capt. Joe Gomez, NMTSC’s Executive Officer and master of ceremonies for the event.
“This ceremony represents the culmination of a two-and-a-half year effort to complete this dedication project,” said retired Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Donald “Doc” Mason, Commander, Legion of Valor, San Antonio Chapter. “The Legion of Valor was interested in having a Navy facility here [JBSA-FSH] named after one of our members.”
Each year, in coordination with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), a memorial ceremony is held at Kilmer’s grave site. In November of 2018, the building dedication planning initiatives began.
“We discussed various ways the Navy could and should honor Hospitalman Kilmer who was not only a Medal of Honor recipient, but was also from San Antonio,” said Mason. “The annual ceremony held at Kilmer’s grave in San Jose Burial Park is a wonderful event created and organized by [retired] Marine Sergeant John Rodriguez and the VFW every year. After many stops, delays, and coordination, approval was granted earlier this year by the Air Force to proceed with the building naming.”
Mason expressed his gratitude for the individuals and event contributors during his speech, including Sailors and senior leaders assigned to NMFSC and NMTSC.
“We would also like to recognize another person whose knowledge of military honors and creative skill resulted in the outstanding medal display in the glass case and the photo arrangement on the wall behind it,” said Mason. “Retired Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Van Boerner.”
A wall in Kilmer Hall now holds photos and award citations awarded to Kilmer including a Presidential Letter signed by Harry S. Truman.
Kilmer was born in Highland Park, Ill., but his family moved to San Antonio in 1936 and remains in the area today. He attended Sam Houston High School where he was active in track and Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC). He enlisted in the Navy on his 17th birthday. Shortly after completing Field Medical Service School, he was assigned to the Howe Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. On August 13, 1952, he was killed in action.
“He had been in Korea only two months and was two days short of his 22nd birthday,” said Mason. “I fully appreciate that we are celebrating John Kilmer today; however, most of you know, I too served with the FMF in Korea, which was once called the ‘Forgotten War.’ I can tell you that it was extremely devastating like all wars, with the well-trained Chinese Army doing much of the fighting for and alongside the North Koreans.”
Mason described the inception of a policy created to keep all new arriving troops behind the main line for five days before sending them into action. This was done due to the number of casualties occurring within the first few days in-country.
“Hospitalman Kilmer and I shared a couple of coincidental circumstances in Korea,” said Mason. “Both of us served with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, though he was with Howe Company and I was with Baker about 10 miles down range. I arrived in Korea five days after HN Kilmer was killed. He was killed within two months of arriving in country, and I was wounded three times within two months of arriving in country. I only say this to emphasize how bloody and vicious this war was, especially for Corpsmen assigned to the FMF.”
Of the seven Medals of Honor awarded to Navy personnel in Korea, two were pilots and five were Hospital Corpsmen. Four of the five were awarded posthumously. Of the 43 Navy Crosses awarded to Navy personnel in Korea, 27 were Hospital Corpsmen.
“I am truly sorry that no members of the Kilmer family were able to be here with us in person, though they are certainly with us here in spirit,” said Mason.
The Kilmer family’s statement was read during the ceremony by Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Chris Graham, NMTSC’s Command Master Chief, expressing their gratitude for the building dedication ceremony.
“We are extremely disappointed in not being able to attend today’s dedication,” the letter read. “Concerns over vulnerable, elderly family members and job restrictions associated with COVID-19 prevent us from travel and any unnecessary exposure to others. It has been 68 years since Jackie sacrificed his life while tending to the wounds of Marines in the attack on Bunker Hill. Naming this building ‘Kilmer Hall’ in memory of Jackie ensures that his selfless acts will be remembered. In Jackie’s letters to his family during the Korean War, he expressed his love for medicine and desire to continue in the medical field after the war. Jackie had a difficult home life and was not the best student, but as can be said for many, the Navy brought out the best in him. We’ll never know what might have been, but with this honor you have bestowed upon him, his example can be an inspiration for current and future Hospital Corpsmen.”
“I don’t believe there is much I can add to that touching statement which illustrates how much this means to the family,” said Mason. “ In closing, I would like to read a quote from President Harry Truman’s tribute to John Kilmer, which is displayed on the wall behind the glass case. ‘He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die, that freedom might live and grow, and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives.’”
NMTSC is the Navy component command providing administrative and operational control over Navy staff and students assigned to the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC) and other medical programs in the San Antonio area.
Join the conversation with NMTSC online at www.facebook.com/NMTSCFSH/.
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2020 14:15 |
| Story ID: | 376434 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 154 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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