# Medic! Medic! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 30, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743 "2009-10-30T17:04:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flano1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f14d63/32.png) [@flano1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flano1)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/1 "2009-10-30T17:04:24Z")
Simply put, before the ubiquity of Merkin films and subsequent language colonisation, what did ( or still do ) military personnel in other countries ( English speaking preferable, but not a prerequisite ) call out when they needed assistance after being hit on the battlefield. I guess I’m wondering about Brits, Aussies, Kiwis, Canadians, South Africans… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/2 "2009-10-30T17:29:28Z")
What’s a “Merkin film” and why would movies about pubic wigs have anything to do with language colonization? ---
**Author:** ![Vorpal\_Blade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9de0a6/32.png) [@Vorpal\_Blade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vorpal_Blade)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/3 "2009-10-30T17:38:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > What’s a “Merkin film” and why would movies about pubic wigs have anything to do with language colonization? “Merkin” = American pubic wigs 😕😕😕 ---
**Author:** ![flano1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f14d63/32.png) [@flano1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flano1)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/4 "2009-10-30T17:41:59Z")
OK. I wasn’t referring to the pubic wigs they use in operas, that’s another thread needing to be done. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/5 "2009-10-30T17:44:39Z")
Well, if you want to use this horrid term, try this: 'Merican. Then, of course, it might be confused with “Mexican,” so I plead with you to avoid it altogether. For the sake of clarity, type out the entire word, “American.” After all, it only is one additional letter. 😃 Come to think of it, if we are striving for clarity, you might use “North American.” ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/6 "2009-10-30T18:39:58Z")
But do Canadians shout “Medic[,eh]!” ? ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/7 "2009-10-30T18:44:04Z")
> [@bikebloke](#): > > “Merkin” = American > > pubic wigs 😕😕😕 if you aren’t at work, google it. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/8 "2009-10-30T19:15:57Z")
If your an American Marine it would be, “Corpsman,” or, more likely, “Corpsman up.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/9 "2009-10-30T19:16:38Z")
U.S. Marines shout “Corpsman!,” if Hollywood is to be believed. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/10 "2009-10-30T19:40:46Z")
In the Spanish army they’re called “sanitarios.” But in general, the scream is more likely to be along the lines of “¡su puta madre! ¡ay mi madre! ¡Madre de Dios!” (the whore who birthed him! Mommy! Holy Mother of God!)… ---
**Author:** ![flano1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f14d63/32.png) [@flano1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flano1)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/11 "2009-10-30T20:30:48Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > In the Spanish army they’re called “sanitarios.” But in general, the scream is more likely to be along the lines of “¡su puta madre! ¡ay mi madre! ¡Madre de Dios!” (the whore who birthed him! Mommy! Holy Mother of God!)… hee hee ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/12 "2009-10-30T20:31:07Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > U.S. Marines shout “Corpsman!,” if Hollywood is to be believed. I finally had a Eureka moment when watching M_A_S\*H and wondering why, with all the folks running around, they would always call for that same guy, Corman. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/13 "2009-10-30T20:40:35Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > I finally had a Eureka moment when watching M_A_S\*H and wondering why, with all the folks running around, they would always call for that same guy, Corman. While he’s treating your wounds he won’t be able to stop himself from laughing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/14 "2009-10-31T06:00:55Z")
German soldiers call “Sani” when they need a medic. This is from “Sanitar Soldat” or Sanitary Soldier. The German soldiers I worked with in NATO would often pretend to call for a Medic: “Sani . . . Sani” when they found out that I was a medic in my first enlistment. In my experience, US Army troops will call “Medic” and US Marines will call “Corpsman.” But some of both will call “Mom” if they are hurt bad. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/15 "2009-10-31T06:40:32Z")
> [@T.Slothrop](#): > > But some of both will call “Mom” if they are hurt bad. The ones that are hurt bad generally aren’t doing any calling at all – they are unconscious. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/16 "2009-10-31T06:47:35Z")
> [@KlondikeGeoff](#): > > Come to think of it, if we are striving for clarity, you might use “North American.” That would defocus it again, to include Canadians and Mexicans. ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/17 "2009-10-31T07:17:26Z")
Quote: Originally Posted by T. Slothrop But some of both will call “Mom” if they are hurt bad. Originally posted by t-bonham The ones that are hurt bad generally aren’t doing any calling at all – they are unconscious. So let me change that to hurting bad. T.S. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/18 "2009-10-31T08:59:39Z")
Once again, my experience is from medic school and a lifetime ago but the medical corpsman assigned to a unit was usually referred to as “Doc.” When in the field, injuries were treated by your own units corpsman so “Doc! Here!” would be common. BTW, the Marine Corps doesn’t have their own medics. Their medical personnel are Navy. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/19 "2009-10-31T11:03:33Z")
In the British army you’d turn to your neighbour (usually an old school chum) and politely mention that you’re in a spot of bother… “I say old chap, I seem to have a lost a leg, dashed inconvenient… any chance of a stiff drink and a bandage? Oh I’m terribly sorry, I seem to be bleeding all over you… poor form, eh” ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743/20 "2009-10-31T11:58:49Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > BTW, the Marine Corps doesn’t have their own medics. Their medical personnel are Navy. But they are assigned to USMC battalions, and are quartered with them as well. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medic-medic/515743.md?page=2)