By Lance Cpl. Skyler Tooke Sergeant Bradley Adams and Cpl. Jordan Muck both help the youngest and oldest corpsmen as they cut the cake after the morning color ceremony June 17.

Marines and sailors gathered at the entrance to the Quantico Naval Health Clinic to recognize corpsmen for their dedication to their jobs.

The ceremony started off with colors (the raising of the flag) and an invocation from Capt. Lawrence Greenslit, the base command chaplin, followed by the reading of ‘‘I Am A Navy Corpsman,” by a sailor before the two guest speakers took the podium.

Sergeant Bradley Adams and Cpl. Jordan Muck, from Bethesda Naval Hospital, were the guest speakers for the corpsmen birthday, giving commendations to the corpsmen who saved their lives in combat.

Both veterans shared their life changing events experienced with corpsmen.

‘‘Corpsmen are in a different category than any other sailor. He is a man of many traits, he is an expert in life saving, but in life taking as well,” Adams said. ‘‘He is there with you in every ambush and every firefight, and he comes back to base with just as much mud on his boots as any Marine I know.

‘‘The true reason why I am standing here today is because of corpsmen. On July 30, 2007, the words that can stop everything around you came out of my mouth, ‘corpsmen up,’” Adams explained. ‘‘Myself and another Marine were hit by an improvised explosive device while conducting a dismounted patrol. I owe my life to the corpsman, if it wasn’t for his actions and quick thinking, I wouldn’t be here.”

Muck then shared his own experience of witnessing corpsmen dedicating their lives to keeping Marines in the fight. He said he suffered many concussions while deployed, and every time he opened his eyes there was a corpsman checking him out to make sure he was okay.

After both speakers applauded the corpsmen, a cake cutting ceremony took place.

The two guest speakers, along with the youngest and oldest corpsmen present, cut and received the first piece of cake.

‘‘There is so much honor, tradition and pride in serving as a hospital corpsman, and the camaraderie of being with Marines and being on shore taking care of their family members while they are deployed,” said Petty Officer 1st Class James Paige. ‘‘After 19 years of service I still love it. The 110 years of service really can’t be put into words; it is what we do and what we love. I appreciate the Marines for what they do, and I love serving with them. I thank the ones (corpsmen) that came before me and the ones that will come after me.”