THE MASH UNITS

THE MOBILE ARMY SURGICAL HOSPITALS PROVIDED VITAL AND RAPID SUPPORT TO FRONTLINE TROOPS AND IMPROVED THE FATALITY RATE

The Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (MASH) inspired the 1970 hit movie of the same name, directed by Robert Altman, and a long-running sitcom. Both were based on the experiences of Richard Hornberger, who wrote a satirical novel about his experiences in Korea in 1968.

Seven MASH units operated in Korea at various stages of the war. The first was set up on 6 July 1950 in Pusan. The concept of a mobile field hospital had been established immediately after World War II on 23 August 1945. Each MASH unit was planned as a 60-bed truckborne hospital that could be disassembled and moved at six hours’ notice.

They typically operated around 20 miles (32 kilometres) behind the fighting and were served by four Bell H-13 helicopters. By Christmas 1950 there were four MASH units in Korea, sometimes serving 400 patients per day. Within a few months they had been enlarged to 200 beds and were augmented by ‘Normash’ – the Norwegians performing a noncombat role in the UN mission. Helicopter mobility along with superior surgical and post operative care paid off. The fatality rate for wounded American soldiers dropped from 4.5 per cent in World War II to 2.5 per cent in Korea.