What is Devildoc?
1.
Term of endearment applied by US Marines to their platoon-level medical personnel based on "
A Corpsman is probably the single most highly respected member of the US Navy to an infantryman because he chooses to be there instead of some soft-ass
Corpsmen tend to be highly protective of their Marines and there are many accounts of "Doc" coming to the aid of a wounded Marine under heavy enemy fire. John "Doc" Bradley is one example, winning the Navy Cross a short time after helping to raise the flag on Iwo Jima (he's one of the gentlemen immortalized on the monument).
The "Devildoc" is poked, prodded and ridiculed within the platoon (all in good fun, mind you), but let someone from outside the unit say one negative word about him and they can stand the fuck by. Any Marine worth his salt will buy a Devildoc a drink at the drop of a hat whether he knows him or not.
Also used when you're trying to buddy up to the Corpsman in order to get something from him.
Marine - "OORAH Devildoc!"
Corpsman - "Yeah, yeah... Whatever, Jarhead."
Marine - "Hey there, Devildoc. Wanna souvenir me one of those fuckin' cigarettes?"
Corpsman - "Golly gee, sure thing Marine! Take the pack!"
Corpsman *to himself* - "Broke-ass motherfucker..."
See