Navy Corpsman

My friend Jon made this figure. Hes been working on it for a while and asked me to post the pictures I took of it yesterday. Also included the background on the figure. The pics dont do it justice honestly its a beauty

A little background on Pierce.

Pharmacist's Mate First Class Francis J. Pierce, USN, (1924-1986)
Francis Junior Pierce was born on 7 December 1924 in Earlville, Iowa. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy from the Naval Recruiting Station, Great Lakes, Illinois in December 1941. After recruit training at Great Lakes, Pierce received instruction at the Hospital Corps School, Portsmouth, Virginia, graduating in March 1942. He briefly served at the Naval Hospital, Parris Island, South Carolina before reassignment to Camp Lejuene, North Carolina. In January 1944, he was assigned to Medical Company "B', Fourth Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California. In February, he saw combat on Kwajalein, in the Marshall Islands, and during June and July 1944 was again in action on Saipan and Tinian, in the Marianas.
During February and March 1945, while serving with the Second Battalion, Twenty-fourth Marines, Fourth Marine Division, Pierce participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima. On 15 March 1945, while helping and evacuating wounded Marines during bitter fighting, he deliberately exposed himself to enemy fire to protect the wounded men under his care and eventually carried two of them to safety across fire-swept open terrain. Although seriously wounded on 16 March while providing aid to a wounded Marine, he disregarded his own injuries, directed treatment of the injured man and fired on the enemy to provide cover for his fellow troops. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life," he was awarded the Medal of Honor, as well as the Navy Cross and the Silver Star. Pierce was discharged from the Navy in December 1945.
After moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan, he spent a year in the Michigan National Guard, attaining the rank of Second Lieutenant, and joined the Grand Rapids police force as a patrolman. During a career in which he rose to Deputy Police Chief, he continued to demonstrate personal bravery during difficult and dangerous situations. Francis J. Pierce died on 21 December 1986 and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Medal of Honor citation of Pharmacist's Mate First Class Francis Junior Pierce, USN
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the Second Battalion, Twenty-fourth Marines, FOURTH Marine Division, during the Iwo Jima Campaign, 15 and 16 March 1945. Almost continuously under fire while carrying out the most dangerous volunteer assignments, PIERCE gained valuable knowledge of the terrain and disposition of troops. Caught in heavy enemy rifle and machine-gun fire which wounded a corpsman and two of the eight stretcher bearers who were carrying two wounded Marines to a forward aid station on 15 March, PIERCE quickly took charge of the party, carried the newly wounded men to a sheltered position, and rendered first aid. After directing the evacuation of three of the casualties, he stood in the open to draw the enemy's fire and, with his weapon blasting, enabled the litter bearers to reach cover. Turning his attention to the other two casualties, he was attempting to stop the profuse bleeding of one man when a Japanese fired from a cave less than 20 yards away and wounded his patient again. Risking his own life to save his patient, PIERCE deliberately exposed himself to draw the attacker from the cave and destroyed him with the last of his ammunition. Then lifting the wounded man to his back, he advanced unarmed through deadly rifle fire across 200 feet of open terrain. Despite exhaustion and in the face of warnings against such a suicidal mission, he again traversed the same fire-swept path to rescue the remaining Marine. On the following morning, he led a combat patrol to the sniper-nest and, while aiding a stricken Marine, was seriously wounded. Refusing aid for himself, he directed treatment for the casualty, at the same time, maintaining protective fire for his comrades. Completely fearless, completely devoted to the care of his patients, PIERCE inspired the entire battalion. His valor in the face of extreme peril sustains and enhances the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

I seldom go back to a figure once I'm finished with it. This one is an exception.
It has been evolving for many years. It started with DML Jack's green uniform, and molded cross flap canteens and first aid pouches. The helmet was from DML US Helmet carded set repainted with the white circles used early in the War, his boots from Kenneth in baby puke yellow. His medical gear was from the 21st Corpsman set, and a .45 shoulder holster covered his USMC lettered pocket. He had a Thompson from the 21st carded Marine/PTO set.
His next changes came about with DML's Marine carded set, cloth canteens, cloth first aid pouches, cloth leggings, better colored boots, etc. BBI supplied a shoulder strapped medic's bag.
I finally decided to move him to the late War section of my display area. In order to represent a Corpsman at Iwo Jima, where he earned his MOH, I gave him the much improved DML Sonny's uniform and boots, a camo cover for his helmet, and a newer DML field jacket. A cap under the helmet was common and BBI's Sparky donated his cloth jeep cap. I kept the cross flap canteens which were really wrong for the early Corpsman, but now appropriate. I configured the Jungle first aid kit with the field dressing pouch below it and the canteens tight to the kit in keeping with period photos. The coat hides the USMC markings so the holster went away, I may add a hip holstered .45. His medic bag is now a scratched bag from DML with a strap of dyed Goss ribbon. I'm holding out hope some company will produce a quality one of these common bags. DML provided his new Thompson, the sling swapped with a British SAS figure, to the latter model Thompson. His bolo knife is from the carded USMC set, it's sheath is from a BBI figure. He holds a scratch built field dressing, cut from a WWII 1/1 field dressing