Photos

Chief Hospital Corpsman James Boening, center, the oldest corpsman present, Hospital Corpsman Justin Sontoyo, left, the youngest corpsman present, and 1st Medical Battalion’s Command Master Chief Edgar M. Santiago, right, eat a piece of cake during the 117th Hospital Corps Birthday ceremony aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 17, 2015. It is naval tradition for the third piece of cake to be passed from the oldest corpsman present to the youngest and for the first piece of cake to be presented to the guest of honor. The Hospital Corps came into existence as an organized unit of the medical department under the provision of an act of congress approved June 17, 1898. The hospital corpsmen work in a wide variety of capacities and locations, including shore establishments such as naval hospitals and clinics, aboard ships, and as the primary medical caregivers for Sailors and Marines while underway and forward deployed. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Laura Gauna/ Released)