United States. Department of Defense

“ We are here to save lives, not to destroy them. We are committed to the future, not the past, and to the primary mission of military medicine, with is to keep the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines alive and whole: in the words of Abraham Lincoln, to minister to "him who has bore the brunt of battle." ”

“ I have seen people strive for, and achieve, excellence in all those setting. I see it now in the military health care system, and no one is more proud than I of the accomplishments ad the quality of that system and of the special type of men and women who makes the system work. Our system is not without its problems and its frustrations. It takes a long time for equipment to be delivered; the personnel system doesn't always provide the proper mix of people in a timely manner to get the job done ”

“ The success of any military health care system in wartime is directly related to the number of casualties adequately treated and returned to duty with their units. This must be accomplished as soon and as far forward in the theater of operations as possible.
The Second Battle of Bull Run near Manassas, Virginia, was one of the major engagements of the United States Civil War. Three days after that great battle, three thousand wounded men still lay on the field. ”