WW2 US Medic
During World War 2 in the American Army, a battalion of some 400 to 500 men would have about 30 medics. Their job was to stabilize the wounded and to prepare them for evacuation to field hospitals or medical centers to the rear. They were trained to stop bleeding, apply dressings, sprinkle sulfa powder on wounds as an antiseptic, and to administer morphine as a sedative. Medics often had to make the decision of which wounded soldiers were beyond help, moving onto the next wounded man to treat with their limited supplies and time.
Medics wore numerous symbols of the iconic red cross, a vivid symbol of hope to those in need of it to help, attracting the attention of wounded soldiers requiring medical attention. The symbol was also intended to dissuade enemy fire, however not all soldiers respected that protocol, especially in the Pacific Theatre where they were often seen as a preferred target.