To the men and women of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps:

As medical professionals, we know that healing can take time. As America and the world prepare to mark the 10-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our country, we remember September 11, 2001, with many emotions: sadness for the families of the more than 3,000 people who lost their lives that day and admiration for the heroes who provided aid and comfort to the victims.

As Assistant Secretary for Health and as U.S. Surgeon General, we also reflect with pride that members of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps served as some of the most important responders at the World Trade Center in New York City. The Commissioned Corps was put on readiness alert on 9/11, making some 5,700 Corps personnel available for deployment. In particular, about 800 officers who made up the Commissioned Corps Readiness Force were on standby for immediate deployment to meet local needs for specific medical skills.

In New York City, USPHS officers helped to set up makeshift clinics to treat the wounded. Disaster Medical Assistance Teams cared for and treated civilians, alongside firefighters, law enforcement personnel, other emergency medical responders and civilian recovery crews. Teams also provided occupational and environmental exposure assessments and set up surveillance systems for tracking injuries and illnesses of the rescue and recovery workers. USPHS officers provided professional assistance on the Navy’s hospital ship, the USNS Comfort. And Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Teams supervised and assisted in the operation of temporary morgues.

After 9/11, in the face of the anthrax attacks, the Corps again responded and served. Members of the USPHS were on the front lines for weeks -- investigating and monitoring those infected and exposed, providing post-exposure antibiotics, educating the public, conducting environmental assessments and working on decontamination efforts. You helped ensure the health and safety of rescue workers and the general public during this extraordinary time.

We have since applied the lessons of 9/11 and anthrax to many other disasters over the past 10 years. First of all, those events served as the impetus for the development of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteer program. Since its inception in 2002, the MRC has grown to cover more than 90% of the U.S. population through a force that exceeds 200,000 volunteers in more than 950 units nationwide.

Also, the Commissioned Corps now prepares for and responds to a range of disasters as diverse as hurricanes, floods, bioterrorism attacks, pandemics, dirty bombs and more. Many of you were recently deployed to the East Coast to assist with Hurricane Irene response efforts. During other recent disasters, such as the BP oil spill, floods in the Midwest and tornadoes in the Southeast, you have proven your commitment to the people of the United States.

Also, your tours of duty as highly trained and skilled medical personnel in high-risk war zones, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, have made the USPHS an essential part of U.S. global deployments.

We note that this service often involves leaving your families and traveling to faraway places. Many of you have served by setting up clinics in devastated areas in order to meet the basic health needs of underserved and vulnerable populations. You have worked with community partners to provide medical, dental, vision, mental health, pharmacy, nursing and veterinary care to all who come.

As we approach this solemn 10-year anniversary, President Obama is calling for Americans to “honor the victims of 9/11 and to reaffirm the strength of our nation with acts of service.” The Commissioned Corps exemplifies that spirit through service, dedication and commitment.

Thank you for your extraordinary gifts to our country and thank you for helping us heal.

• Howard Koh, M.D., M.P.H.
• Regina M. Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A.


• Assistant Secretary for Health
• U.S. Surgeon General