Hospitalmen 2nd Class Greg Cinelli and David T Springer


Navy Hospitalman Second Class Greg Cinelli on the left and Hospitalman Second Class David T Springer on the right. Two Saugus firefighters who recently returned from a tour of duty as Navy medics to U.S Marine units. Note Greg Cinelli is wearing the traditional Navy dress Blues better known as the cracker jack uniform ( from the candy) and Dave is wearing the Marine green uniform with the navy Hospitalman insignia on the sleeve. Navy Hospitalmen are the only Navy personnel that are allowed to wear these. Dave did four years as a Marine regular before joining the Navy Reserves as a Medic. It's no wonder he wanted to wear the Marine green.

Hospitalman Second Class David T Springer


Firefighter paramedic David Springer spent four years as a regular Marine. David served with a helicopter unit and earned his wings in that capacity. He joined the fire department after his discharge, graduated from The Massachusetts Fire Fighting Academy and also became a Paramedic. The terrible events of September 11, inspired David to serve again. Dave joined the Army Reserves and completed one enlistment.
Upon Dave's discharge from the Army Reserves he tried to get into the Marines Corp Reserves but they said he was too old. Undeterred David found that the Navy was desperately looking for medics. Dave made a deal with the Navy recruiter to enlist in the naval Reserves as a medic, but only if he was guaranteed to be assigned to a marine unit. Dave began the grueling physical training and quickly turned himself into warrior shape, all the while training with men half his age.
David deployed to Iraq with a Marine unit. His maturity and strong background in trauma medicine made the young men feel comfortable and confident with their "doc." David spent a lot of time treating and evaluating captured Iraqi insurgents as well administering medical care to the general population. He also made several dangerous trips escorting Iraqi prisoners from remote bases, to prisons such as Abu Ghraid.
Under constant threat of sniper, rocket and mortar attack Hospitalman Second Class David T Springer maintained his focus and always completed the mission. Although a Navy Hospitalman Dave still maintained a "Semper Fi" attitude. A soft spoken man, Dave claims that he did nothing special. I disagree, while we enjoyed freedom, our families, a warm comfortable bed and the food of our choice David was in a hostile environment, at the mercy of the elements, living out of a ruck sack. The devotion to his nation, his community and the Saugus Fire Department make me proud to be a firefighter.

Hospitalman Second Class Gregory Cinelli


Greg is a a married father of three who has over seventeen years of military service. Including the regular Navy, Army Reserves and for the last several years the Navy Reserves. Greg's service has taken him all over the world. He has cross trained and mastered several skills while in the service. Greg is currently serving as a Hospitalman Second Class. A highly trained veteran firefighter Greg is always the first one to jump in when there is an incident, regardless of whether it is a fire haz mat or medical.
Greg"s first deployment to Iraq put him with a Marine infantry unit in the field. Greg was involved in several firefights, and was decorated for valor in combat, (see related story). Although sniped at, rocketed, mortared and ambushed, Greg maintains he was just doing his job.
Returning from Iraq Greg quietly resumed his job on Saugus engine one, responding to calls and sharing his vast knowledge of emergency medicine and firefighting, with several new men. Greg recently was notified by the Navy that he was needed again, he has shipped out for a second tour of duty with the Marines in Iraq. Greg is serving as the Medic with a small unit of assault Marines in the area of Fallusha. When I asked him about the back luck of having to go back a second time he did not seem upset at all, he just said he was doing his job. America is very fortunate to have men like Greg to whom duty, honor and country is not just a slogan worn on a "T" shirt.


The following article was taken from the Boston Herald on Monday June 21,2004


A Navy Corpsman from Saugus who ignored heavy enemy fire to treat a wounded marine in Iraq has been decorated for his valor. Petty Officer 2nd Class Gregory Cinelli, 34 was awarded the Navy and marine Corps achievement Medal with"V" for combat valor for his actions April 10.2004 near Camp Taqaddum.
Cinelli was patrolling with a squad of Marines when they were ambushed by a roadside bomb then came under heavy fire from mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire.
Cinelli exposed himself to the deadly fire to treat 20-year old Marine Lance Corporal Curtis Hensley, who had been shot in the head.
"If it had been one inch lower, there would have been nothing I could do about it" Cinelli told the Marine Corps News.
Exhorting other Marines to concentrate on suppressing the attack instead of focusing on their wounded friend, Cinelli and two other men dragged Hensley, of Missouri, to a vehicle and drove him back to their battalion's medical station.
Cinelli then "turned around and went right back out there," he said, but the remaining Marines had been reinforced and killed 14 insurgents Four of the marines were also decorated for their gallantry under fire. Three Marines, including Hensley, who lost his right eye, received Purple Hearts for being wounded.
The firefight lasted an hour after Marines and Cinelli dismounted from their vehicles to take cover behind a house.