History and the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

[@petevenuti7355]

Thank you for pointing me to this video! It's an organization that deserves to be known about, and expanded, not just remembered.

[@scottmichael3902]

My father Jerrold Michael was a USPHS officer. He recently died at 92 years and was buried in his USPHS uniform. He was extremely proud of his service and I greatly appreciate your video.

[@cdrtej]

RADM Michael was a giant in our history

[@ajchenmph]

Active-duty USPHS Commissioned Corps officer here. Thanks so much for putting this out there. It is making the rounds amongst the officers and generating a lot of service pride. Two small corrections: - Surgeon General Koop is spelled with a K, not a C. - We have, unfortunately, not been involved with either the Continuing Promise or the Pacific Partnership missions (which are U.S. Navy humanitarian assistance missions) since the early 2010's; hoping that will change soon. Again, thank you.

[@donalddodson7365]

Thank you for your service, Andrew Chen! Maybe the USPHS is the real "silent service" ;-)

[@richardtravalini6731]

See my post today. I salute you.

[@TheDasbull]

My dad, a retired Coast Guardsman was stationed at USPHS Seattle for his final duty station. I remember visiting him at his office as a young kid - a very busy place during the 1970's. Thank you for acknowledging this under appreciated service 👍

[@juliestevens6931]

I work with a lot of Commission Corps personnel in the Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS). They are often sent to disaster areas to help out (Katrina, the Ebola outbreak, 9/11). Yay! Dr. Coop! He was the Surgeon General when I joined the DHHS. So glad to see them being remembered.

[@christopherconard2831]

Julie Stevens Dr Coop was brilliant in not only his knowledge of science and public health, but as a showman. He made himself the face and voice of DHHS, much like J Edger Hoover was the FBI. It was no longer just another Washington alphabet agency. He knew people listened to people, not generic government advice. When he released the first official HIV study, he had it printed on the most expensive looking stock available. His goal was to make it look like a cross between a Bible and a royal decree. The more important it looked, the more likely people would take it seriously. The bright cover also made it stand out. So Congresspeople would see reporters carrying it, and assume they needed to do something now. None of this takes away from his skills, it shows he truly understood how Washington works.

[@markrossow6303]

I remember Dr. Coop as a bright spot in otherwise dismal Ronnie Actor Reagan Admin. My Jr. High + H.S. was in NoVA, with WaPo as local newspaper; MacNeill-Lehrer Hour as evening tv news I should have left for Senior Year at DODS H.S. in Seoul YongSan Army Base, but my Dad went that year unaccompanied so I could graduate without switching schools... What / Why ???

[@jennaolbermann7663]

This was fascinating to learn about. I’m sharing it with my friend’s son who is studying public health in college. I never knew any of this history. They deserve to be more acknowledged.

[@srj1013]

My cousin just got his first call to duty in this field! He now joins the ranks of my other cousin, my sister-in-law's father, and my brother-in-law's father. We are so proud of them!!

[@donalddodson7365]

The more episodes I watch, the more I appreciate THG & Ms. HG! My father served in the USPHS in WWII, so I had heard about it but did not realize the scope of the Corps' service. Thank you!

[@richardtravalini6731]

Don't forget THC, The History Cat.

[@Absaalookemensch]

The US Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do a phenomenal job. The US public has no idea how much their lives are bettered because of the work of these governmental agencies. The Commission Corp staff Indian Health Services medical facilities and the rapid deployments forces work hand in hand with Deportment of Defense medical services in national and international disasters. Excellent video, thank you.

[@Hobedobe31]

I find it amazing how little I knew of this important agency and all their contributions to our well being. I look back and see many of the things just described by The History Guy as small parts of fabulous news stories. I now believe this group deserves a heartfelt, "Thank you for your services!"

[@MrZzyzxx]

with each of your "snippits" I become more aware that History is much more than the number of casualties in some battle or the dates of the reign of some king or queen but rather the culmination of events that have led us to today. I look forward to each of your videos with relish and curiosity. I am never disappointed - in fact quite the contrary. I feel wiser and more aware how much events in the past have effected our todays and will continue to do so. " Thank you " isn't enough buy it's all I have.

[@johnmyviews3761]

You should be appointed as Public History General

[@commodoresixfour7478]

@John Smith Wow, how's the self hate working out for you?

[@karlbrundage7472]

@John Smith You need to either provide citations for your assertions or withdraw your accusation. I suspect that you will do neither, making you nothing more than a virtual bomb-thrower, looking for attention. You had it, for a moment. Congratulations.....................

[@andrewpendell3405]

John Smith What are you talking about? Triggered much? 😂. Now a man can’t even tell you about history?

[@kylesavy6250]

naw dan carlin first then him

[@flickaJay]

are you or were you ever a history professor? i would attend every class and never be late for fear i would miss something super fascinating.

[@rosariokinderknecht3693]

I love the History Guy! I turn it on when I get off from work and listen to it while I cook dinner and sometimes up until I go to bed at night. I love it!

[@DoomerONE]

Fantastic video sir, this was very fascinating, thank you for the share.

[@mercator79]

I think it is Koop, not Coop. I love your videos - refreshing dose of knowledge in the sludgepile that is KZbin. Thank you!

[@deepinthewasatch66]

Thank you, from all 6700 of us!

[@GarySmythe]

Another great Five Minutes of History. Thanks History Guy!

[@CMFL77]

11,000 subscribers now! Man, your channel is growing so fast lately...and it's well deserved! Been binge watching the series - thanks for keeping the stories coming!

[@CMFL77]

...correction... 12,000!!! So happy for you! It's going to keep growing exponentially and you'll be at 1 million before you even know what hit you! ☺

[@spacemonkey4010]

Thank you for the great information. My dad was a Commander in the Commissioned Corps. He would have loved your channel.

[@dexterkoula3407]

BRO YOU ARE KILLING IT

[@clarabarton8350]

Very nice review, thank you. Just a few points; the Caduceus of Mercury is not a symbol for medicine, only commerce. The Rod of Asclepius (one snake) represents medicine. It is believed that the Caduceus of Mercury was used because both the Marine Hospital Service and the Revenue Cutter Service (modern-day U.S. Coast Guard, USCG) were housed in the Department of The Treasury. The mission of both services was to protect commerce. Also, the U.S. Public Health Service Commission Corps (USPHS) provides all medical care to the USCS to this day. This fact, and the shared history, is perhaps why the USPHS wears the USCG work uniform. The USPHS also wears the khaki uniform, similar to that of the U.S. Navy. However, the USPHS wore the khaki about 40 years before it was adopted by the Navy. Lastly, the USPHS had a hospital in most major American ports and cared for all mariners, including all Navy sailors until 1911 (or 1915, depending on the source). One of the ports was at Charlestown, MA where Marine Hospital Service officers cared for wounded sailors from the U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironside) and wounded British sailors from the War of 1812.

[@C.O._Jones]

I’d always wondered why the Surgeon General wears a uniform. Modern citizens should be more supportive of Public Health - we’ve been spoiled for decades by antibiotics and modern medicine, and most Americans have never seen the devastation of widespread disease.

[@kirkkerman]

I can't tell if this comment aged really well or really badly...

[@kenlandon6130]

@@kirkkerman No its unusual. The issue of "paper admirals" was covered by former Surgeon General Carmona pretty well in this paper. academic.oup.com/milmed/article/182/5-6/1582/4158934

[@kenlandon6130]

@@kirkkerman SG is a political appointee who almost always in modern times is not a PHS officer before appointment to the position. Unlike in the military, where the highest ranking officers are actually careerists and not political appointees.

[@kirkkerman]

@@kenlandon6130 I was referring to the comment about Americans not seeing a major disease outbreak, but your comment was genuinely illuminating. Sadly it doesn't seem like the kind of problem either side will want to spend the time or political capital to fix

[@stoneyll]

Another great episode, thank you~!

[@artgriggs3062]

Thanks for making available this and all your videos. This particular video clarified for me all that is related to the CDC, et al. Kudos!

[@mediamattersismycockholste562]

I'm giving my 14 year old niece a laptop for Christmas, along with a link to this channel. Best history channel I've seen, good job, keep it up!!

[@kevinconrad6156]

You missed one major branch of HHS, the Indian Health Service. They operate hospitals, clinics and provide technical support for water systems on Native Reservations.

[@njaneardude]

I work with USPHS colleagues. Thanks for the informative video.

[@ScooterFXRS]

Glad you covered this Service.

[@dpm-jt8rj]

No one rocks a bow-tie better than The History Guy! Yet another very well put together video sir.

[@PoeticProse7]

This was a great video! I love the information and respect shown!

[@georgeb8701]

Defining selflessness in the service of others. I never knew of their status as uniformed, commissioned officers. ✌🏻🇺🇸

[@markrossow6303]

one of the most beautiful + visible Seattle buildings is the Marine Health Service Hospital, built in 1930s still has a public hospital + clinics in lower floors; was the 1990s HQ for Amazon Amazon provided small offices with sliding doors along the corridors But in 1970s, elevator and stairwell shaft pressurization against smoke became A Thing, so big rectangular "windows", with saw-kerfing beyond the window corners taking out even more rebar, were saw-cut thru the central concrete shearwall-core In 1990s, cell towers were added on top In the 2001 Ash Wednesday earthquake, the building was twisting itself apart; big car-sized chunks were poised to fall when the shaking stopped and no after-shocks occured I had a small rôle in the excellent repair and restoration, with carbon-fiber wrap added to concrete diaphragms and shearcore, and with exterior brick salvaged and re-laid as a single-wythe veneer over new cold-formed light-guage steel framing

[@richardtravalini6731]

There are two other civilian uniformed services that I think you missed, The United States Air Force Auxiliary better know as the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. As a Major in the Civil Air Patrol, I'm very familiar with its customs and courtesies. As a retired commissioned officer of the United Sates Army serving for over 20 years, I never knew of this uniformed service of civilians. The CAP regulation states that members of the regular armed services are not required to salute CAP officers. But as an Army officer, I have both saluted and returned the salute of these other non-military services as a sign of mutual respect. After seeing this presentation, it confirms that I was doing the right thing. Thank you.

[@earllutz2663]

Thanks again for another short history lesson.

[@walterdennisclark]

Do you have one on Army Corps of Engineers.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Not yet.

[@workingguy-OU812]

In the various places I've been to in the USA, the Army Corps of Engineers are highly criticized. The arguments, with history, that were being made did make sense, but I have not researched the history I was given. I would hope that a video covering them would include the controversies.

[@walterdennisclark]

Exactly my concern Dave. Thanks for expressing it.

[@lordgarion514]

@@workingguy-OU812 They're criticized because they do things the military needs, which often don't mesh well with what the civilians want. They want the jobs the engineers bring to their area, but they don't want any of the negatives (that they perceive). So they complain.

[@davidharris6581]

The Corps of Engineers, keep the Mississippi from changing course every day. Literally, 365 days a year! Among many other things. The levees they built and maintain have enabled most of our big cities to grow. Especially on the Trinity at Dallas. Their profile will only grow as we eventually start piping water from the Great Lakes to the Southwest.

[@ghrey8282]

👍👍 I concur, real heroes deserve real recognition.

[@MichaelSmith-wz8bp]

You've done it again! Great job!

[@samueladams6876]

There was a USPHS movie "Panic in the Streets" staring Richard Widmark in 1950!

[@sharonmullins1957]

Love all of your videos!!!

[@rplpalacio1920]

awesome man my hats off to you sir

[@anatolib.suvarov6621]

I never knew why the "Surgeon General of the United States" was always a Navy officer. Now I do.

[@BeachsideHank]

Panic in the Streets (1950), a movie starring Richard Widmark as a member of the U.S. Public Health Corps. www.imdb.com/title/tt0042832/ IMDB Review: "This movie garnered an Oscar for Edna and Edward Anhalt's writing of the original story for a motion picture. And, WHAT a great idea for a story this is--even today. It was shot completely on location in what used to be a truly great and important gulf port city, New Orleans, Louisiana. This movie ingeniously teams up a crotchety, skeptical policeman (Paul Douglas) with a totally devoted doctor (Richard Widmark) from the US Public Health Service, a regular branch of the service that doesn't get enough attention for ITS service to our country. Here, we get to see Widmark as the good guy for a change. He is workaholic family man- struggling to make ends meet--who doesn't have enough time for wife (Barbara Bel Geddes) and his young son."

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

BeachsideHank I originally had a shout out to the movie in the script, but had to cut for time. It is quite a gripping film.

[@BeachsideHank]

i kinda had a feeling you'd know about the movie, by all means then pin it if you like.☺

[@TheElnots]

I've only been subscribed for 2 weeks now and you've already gotten 2k more subs.. ON THE WAY UP!

[@johnpoindexter6594]

This is my DAILY HISTORY CLASS!! You should have a cable TV channel or be part of 60 Minutes!

[@billd.iniowa2263]

How timely to be watching this right now. March 29th 2020, in Iowa, USA. We need the CDC now more than ever. My heartfelt thanks to all of the healthcare workers out there on the front lines. May The Lord keep you and your loved ones safe and well.

[@sueszooinmizzousueszooinmi2613]

It's a shame that these sort of things aren't covered in school; so much more interesting, & more important, then what we were taught.

[@anthonyglass170]

Look into the story of Dr.Joseph Goldberger, an epidemiologist of the USPHS who was nominated for the Nobel Prize five times for his work in determining the cause of pellagra (he never received it).

[@davidharris6581]

Have you done a program on Joseph Lister?

[@billbeyatte]

Your videos are meticulously researched, but I thought it worth mentioning the USPHS role in providing care to native Americans through the Indian Health Service (IHS). You did mention "underserved populations".

[@rayfridley6649]

Wasn't Dr. Walter Reed also involved with the Public Health Service during the Spanish-American War? One of Dr. Reed's experiments was to find the cause of malaria. It was feared that its cause was from either stagnant waters or excessive heat. It turned out that the carriers of malaria are mosquitos prevalent in tropical areas like the Caribbean islands.

[@stephenandersen4625]

my father was on a Coast Guard patrol Frigate in WW2. the ship's doctor was a public health doctor.

[@agypsychild]

Watching in 2021 chagrined that the leadership of all our federal departments have become hyper politicized. I don’t mean the appointees which favoritism and politics always played a role but the careerist.

[@bgjms45]

History guy---You rock!!

[@MrBobkido]

I have a good friend in the Corps. I think him and everyone else for their service!

[@CthulhuInc]

man, you need to update this, due to today's situation :(

[@airborneshodan]

They also provide some medical personnel to Federal Bureau of Prisons.

[@keithlincicum3691]

Hey HG, when will we see the History Gal again?

[@goofyiest]

Awesome! Great story!

[@bannerba-banner2230]

Bro did not have to say Semen that many times... lol

[@Javaman92]

I LOVE this!!!

[@joejohns3543]

Great video! Got my History guy tshirt today! +1 for awesome videos.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Thank you!

[@bwhog]

Nice bit of history, that. Obscura hiding in plain sight! On a related note, how about a presentation on Walter Reed (the actual person)?

[@willyeverlearn7052]

Dude! You Rock!

[@bobproductions1525]

Could You Please Do The Battle Of Omdurman?

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

BOB PRODUCTIONS!! That is a lot for the size, but someday I will have to do the charge of the 21st.

[@timeflysintheshop]

Only 14,000 views! This is history that is not being remembered on a history channel. Please add a note to a future video to mention to viewers to look back at your past videos. There is great history here that needs to be remembered.

[@nikkitomas7935]

Very interesting story 🙂

[@plangelierwot]

How about the civil air patrol

[@laurenalacroix-nw3ww]

Great

[@Zeldarw104]

wow!! Heroes the more you know!👏👏👏👏👏

[@Ronsmytheiii]

Rewatching, as they are so important wither the COVID-19 outbreak.

[@Lockbar]

So these are the guys that made sure Vito Andolino became Vito Corleone.....

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Immigrants were actually processed by the US Bureau of Immigration. The PHS just did the medical check and quarantine for those suspected of having infectious disease.

[@erictaylor5462]

I know of a story that I think would be right up your ally. Operation PLUTO that took place not long before the invasion of Normandy. "PLUTO" stands for "Pipeline Under The Ocean and it solved the problem of supplying the invasion forces with fuel without the need for ships or depending on captured supplies. I've only seen a news reel style documentary on this operation and it was mind blowing what they did. They actually rolled up the pipe like a string on a spool, then laid the entire pipeline at very high speed, all without letting the Germans know what they were doing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX-UhnuLaN9narc

[@I_am_a_cat_]

Eric Taylor... Sounds like something that wouldn't work at all. Or failed somehow. Am I wrong?

[@neildahlgaard-sigsworth3819]

Cat totally wrong. It worked effectively until the supply lines within France became too long fort to be effective.

[@neildahlgaard-sigsworth3819]

Eric Taylor there is a film on YT above the construction of the pipes.

[@erictaylor5462]

I guess you didn't follow my link then. But thanks any way.

[@erictaylor5462]

Cat, actually it worked perfectly. With the pipe rolled up they were able to lay the entire pipeline in one night without the Germans knowing. If the Germans did see them, they never figured out what they were doing. D-day is one of those military operations that went off so well, it seemed miraculous.

[@roryjones95]

I've actually met Surgeon General Carmona cus he was freinds with my mom, dude was badass

[@davidharris6581]

Too bad no one thought to call Dr. Kinyoun when James Garfield was shot!

[@kaylemoine1571]

You forgot to mention the leprosy hospital. I believe they ran Carvill,

[@yank-tc8bz]

Maybe they can clean up the mess at the VA. Let them take over all the hospitals. They also should take over all the failed for profit hospitals.

[@josephgalarneau7177]

Koop also strongly advocated the decriminalization of marijuana, it ended up costing him his job.

[@kevinloving3141]

Wonder why the Health Service isn't part of regular medical care for U. S. CITIZENS. here on AMERICAN SOIL!!!!!

[@deepinthewasatch66]

We are.

[@dcentral]

Was Walter Reed connected to HSCC or just the Army?

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

Asclepius

[@jeffdittrich6778]

It is tragic the way the CDC and NIH allowed itself to be corrupted by politics. When we needed it most it destroyed it’s credibility. So sad. It may not recover in my lifetime.

[@teddyrattlesnake2991]

What about the national park service? Don't they wear uniforms?

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Teddy Rattlesnake the seven federal uniformed services are defined under Title ten of the Unites States Code, which pertains to the armed forces. But you are correct, and it is a fair point, that there are numerous other federal services that have uniforms.

[@teddyrattlesnake2991]

Thanks for the information. I love your channel!

[@johntabler349]

these are some of the things Americans do makes me even a little more proud of my country! PS at the risk of being inappropriate nurses who looked like that would have made the average soldier feel a whole lot better real fast.

[@johnellington1932]

Choléra whew! Killer disease. Madness.

[@Tadesan]

I had an idea for a topic- Could you do something on an honest and sincere but total failure? Not quite a disaster like the aral sea (I do love the disaster ones though), more like a political plan that in retrospect was just plain a dumb idea and might be forgotten just because it was an unspectacular failure. Like maybe; somebody tried to build a 'perfect community' somewhere, but instead of becoming a cult or something horrific, people just started to move away and the project failed. Wasn't somebody building a "public spaceport" in the desert somewhere? I just heard somebody say that history may not repeat itself, but it rhymes. What rhymes with 'duuuuuhhhhhh'?

[@jonslg240]

Public Health Service Commissioned Corps ..heh. Maybe they could throw in organization, group, Institute, national, etc to the name as well.

[@PeterLJohnson55]

History Guy, I do like your presentations as very entertaining and educational. However, this one (for me) seemed to have its delivery sped up to an unhelpful pace (I presume to fit in the 10 mins limit). Doing so does not help comprehension or enjoyment, IMHO. Maybe less info is, somehow, more, if delivered at your normal pace.

[@Inkling777]

That is easily fixed. Your browser window for the video should have a gear-like symbol in the lower right. Open it and you can set the playback speed faster or slower to suit your preferences.

[@PeterLJohnson55]

Thanks Michael, Yes, I have tried that but to run at 0.75 speed retards the audio too much, at least for me.

[@michaelmaselly5298]

the cdc needs to stick to infectious disease

[@gordonmccollum6386]

Maritime hospital closed after fishing was put under federal control , forcing many of us out of biz!!

[@johnellington1932]

Bombs exploding that stuff goes into atmosphere.

[@ehrldawg]

Are you a vet,history,history guy.

[@jamesallen8418]

How about we ramp up their numbers, and provide medical care for the majority of Americans?

[@BobbyIronsights]

Here's the NOAA video, took forever to find. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4DFeqajoqx3Y6M

[@shamoy1000]

Wow. The government has been in healthcare that long. Explains a lot.

[@lordgarion514]

Yep, and the federal government paid for most of the research that made literally every machine in a hospital used to diagnose or treat a disease or condition possible.

[@QuantumRift]

Whew...slow down the delivery just a tad and its a great presentation. On this one, its like you couldn't wait to get the next word out before the word coming out had been completely spoken...LOL.

[@jameshenry3530]

I find it ironic that the first uniformed officers dress uniforms included swords. It seems strange that physicians would be wearing swords. Also, the Surgeon General wears a dress uniform liberally decorated with ribbons. Since these Surgeon Generals are appointed directly out of the private sector, they are awarded these decorations without any accomplishments whatsoever. Their dress uniforms would look bare indeed without these meaningless awards.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I suspect that Woodworth was just modeling after regular military uniforms of the day. They would be honor blades, not actual weapons. But I agree, it seems oddly out of place. As the corps has its own awards that, essentially, represent deployments, a Surgeon General will receive awards over their tenure. Given the mission of the corps, they may receive these awards more often than regular branches, especially in peace time. For example, in 2015 President Obama recognized the PHS with a Presidential Unit Citation for their work combating Ebola in Africa. As with other members of the Corps, the then Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy was entitled to that award. In terms of ribbons of the Surgeon general, the current surgeon general, Dr. Jerome M Adams, wears two decorations, the Public Health Service Regular Corps Ribbon, which merely denotes that he is a member of the PHSCC, and the Commissioned Corps Training Ribbon, which means that he has completed Officer Training School. There is an additional badge that represents the Surgeon General. But Sylvia Trent-Adams, who was only the second Surgeon general not to be a medical doctor, was the acting surgeon general in between Murthy and Adams. As she had been in the corps for more than fifteen years, she had qualified for a number of awards in her career. Surgeons General are also entitled to wear awards earned in other branches, including civilian awards for agencies like the federal bureau of prisons. So some Surgeons General have a fuller rack than you might expect.

[@sovereignstories]

A lot of people are prior service. And yes we still have swords for the dressiest of uniforms@@TheHistoryGuyChannel

[@southernwanderer7912]

This is an example of government expansion.

[@I_am_a_cat_]

I really, really think you could use a different name for yourself besides "the history guy?" I mean it's not terrible. I think it's just the way you say it, every single video, multiple times.. All.. Energetic. Hahaha. Or at least, you don't have to say you're the history guy multiple times. It's a bit redundant, ya know? Maybe just at the end of your videos? I mean we can read... Haha. Anyways, also, ... I love your channel. Please don't take any of this the wrong way. I watch your content constantly. It's great, and you're great. I wish I had you as my history teacher back in high school. Anyways... Yeah. Your intro is kind of a bit annoying is all. No big deal. The little jingle you have is waaaaay too generic and just makes the whole thing cheesy. Like... 90s educational video cheesy. Ya know? It gets kind of annoying when binge watching. Granted it's only like 10 seconds every video.. It's just so.. Old school haha. You really don't need an intro man. You're great without it. We know who you are! There's plenty of great channels that don't use intros. Come up with a channel logo or something and just show that at the beginning of every video, maybe? Or at least... Please change your little intro tune haha. It makes me cringe at this point. Anyways... Sorry for coming across rude or negative or anything. I just really want to share what I think would make the channel better because MORE PEOPLE need to learn their history. Even more so they need to learn it from the history guy :) Too many people now know nothing, and just repeat history. Soooo... You know what's really stupid? Communism. Tell me how is came to be, maybe? Thanks for all your hard work, regardless. So many things I wouldn't know without you! I'm just a cat though so don't let anyone know

[@willyeverlearn7052]

Dude! You Rock!