Known as "Brud", Arthur Nugent, a long time Hopkinton resident, was a U.S. Navy Corpsman attached to the 1st Marine Division. During 82 days of combat in the Battle of Okinawa, the 1st Marine Division -- the Old Breed -- provided plenty of opportunity for a Corpsman: 6405 WIA, 1260 KIA (or died of wounds, or presumed dead), and about 500 Marine replacements who didn't reach their combat unit before becoming casualties. This excludes non-combat and disease-related casualties. In addition, hundreds of Corpsmen were KIA or WIA.

 

The 1st Marine Division landed at the Hagushi beaches on Love-Day, 1 April 1945, and engaged the enemy continually, experiencing particularly intense resistance at the Shuri Line, Wada Ridge, and Kunishi Ridge. To help with casualties approximately 1000 sailors were assigned to each Marine Division. In combat often there are not enough "Docs" to go around. During World War II overall, Corps ranks swelled to 130,000 personnel. Assignments were in hospitals, shore-based, and on ships and submarines. Of all Hospital Corpsmen in World War II, Fleet Marine Force personnel endured, perhaps, the most grueling side of war. As they swarmed numerous beaches in the Pacific, they became targets themselves as they braved fire to reach downed comrades. At many islands including Okinawa, Hospital Corpsmen bled and died, often in greater numbers than the Marines for whom they cared. Hospital Corpsman is the most decorated rating in the US Navy. This is reflected in Marines showing respect for Navy Corpsmen as their own.

 

Major General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. who commanded the 6th Marine Division on Okinawa was, as a Brigadier General, the former Assistant Division Commander of the Old Breed. He comments on Corpsmen on Okinawa: "...the finest, most courageous men that I know...they did a magnificent job."