Posted on Jul 26, 2017
M*A*S*H: Bringing Surgery to the Soldier
6.89K
44
14
15
15
0
MASH units were established before the Korean war, the first one saw the light in August 1945 at the end of the Second World War. Since then they have been deployed in every conflict the United States was involved in, until 2006. Then it was replaced by the Combat Support Hospital.
The idea of the MASH unit was to treat a wounded soldier as quickly as possible, which means that these units were located close to the frontlines.
The term MASH was made famous in the movie and subsequent television series M*A*S*H which depicts life at the fictional 4077th. These, in turn, were based on the 1968 book MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker.
The MASH unit from the book and film were a lot smaller than the real mash units. The 4077th had 4 medical officers, around 10 nurses, and 50-70 enlisted men. The 8076th, a real MASH unit consisted of 10 medical officers, 12 nursing officers, 89 enlisted soldiers of assorted medical and non-medical specialties.
The following MASH units were active in Korea:
MASH Unit 8054th Evacuation Hospital
MASH Unit 8055th Staffed at onset of hostilities, June 1950.
MASH Unit 8063rd Staffed at onset of hostilities, June 1950.
MASH Unit 8076th Staffed at onset of hostilities, June 1950.
MASH Unit 8209th Originally 1st MASH, Arrived Korea September 1950.
MASH Unit 8225th Originally 2nd MASH. Deactivated end of May 1952.
MASH Unit 8228th Organized April 1952 to treat hemorrhagic fever patients.
The MASH 8076 was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation which reads as follows:
The MOBILE ARMY SURGICAL HOSPITAL, 8076th ARMY UNIT is cited for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services in Korea in support of combat operations during the period from 25 July 1950 to 11 May 1951. During this period the MOBILE ARMY SURGICAL HOSPITAL, 8076TH ARMY UNIT functioned in close support of front line units rendering outstanding medical services.
Its primary mission was to perform as a sixty-bed surgical hospital, however, in many instances the unit assumed the additional responsibilities of an evacuation hospital without loss of operational efficiency. Between 2 August and 5 October at Miryang, the unit furnished forward hospital support for all front line troops except the 25th Infantry Division, admitting 5,674 patients and in one twenty-four hour period handled 244 surgical procedures.
On another occasion, this unit processed 608 patients in one day. A total of 15,000 patients were cared for during the nine months this unit has been in operation, and the medical service rendered to the United Nations Forces was one of the highest caliber.
Under all types of conditions, this hospital has displayed outstanding initiative and aggressive action in performing its many missions.
Although the hospital was required to operate in no less than thirteen different areas in close medical support of front line units, its effectiveness and efficiency has excelled the high standards set by the Army Medical Service.
The MOBILE ARMY SURGICAL HOSPITAL, 8076th ARMY UNIT displayed such outstanding devotion and superior performance of exceptionally difficult tasks as to set it apart and above other units with similar missions.
The efficiency, effectiveness, and versatility shown by the members of the unit in the performance of their assigned missions reflect great credit on themselves, the Army Medical Service, and the military service of the United States.
Take a look at this link below for more pictures and storyline :
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/the-real-mash-units-in-korea.html
@ col mikel COL Mikel J. Burroughs @ ltc stephen LTC Stephen C. @ ltc stephen LTC Stephen F. @ ltc frank LTC (Join to see) @ ltc john LTC John Mohor @ maj william Maj William W. 'Bill' Price @ capt marty Maj Marty Hogan @ smsgt doc SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas @ tsgt joe TSgt Joe C. @ sra christopher SrA Christopher Wright @ msg andrew MSG Andrew White @ sfc joe SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL @ sgt david SGT (Join to see) @ sgt david SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth @ sp5 mark SP5 Mark Kuzinski SCPO Morris Ramsey @ po1 chip PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Alan K. Cynthia Croft @ po3 tom PO3 Tom Howard
The idea of the MASH unit was to treat a wounded soldier as quickly as possible, which means that these units were located close to the frontlines.
The term MASH was made famous in the movie and subsequent television series M*A*S*H which depicts life at the fictional 4077th. These, in turn, were based on the 1968 book MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker.
The MASH unit from the book and film were a lot smaller than the real mash units. The 4077th had 4 medical officers, around 10 nurses, and 50-70 enlisted men. The 8076th, a real MASH unit consisted of 10 medical officers, 12 nursing officers, 89 enlisted soldiers of assorted medical and non-medical specialties.
The following MASH units were active in Korea:
MASH Unit 8054th Evacuation Hospital
MASH Unit 8055th Staffed at onset of hostilities, June 1950.
MASH Unit 8063rd Staffed at onset of hostilities, June 1950.
MASH Unit 8076th Staffed at onset of hostilities, June 1950.
MASH Unit 8209th Originally 1st MASH, Arrived Korea September 1950.
MASH Unit 8225th Originally 2nd MASH. Deactivated end of May 1952.
MASH Unit 8228th Organized April 1952 to treat hemorrhagic fever patients.
The MASH 8076 was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation which reads as follows:
The MOBILE ARMY SURGICAL HOSPITAL, 8076th ARMY UNIT is cited for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services in Korea in support of combat operations during the period from 25 July 1950 to 11 May 1951. During this period the MOBILE ARMY SURGICAL HOSPITAL, 8076TH ARMY UNIT functioned in close support of front line units rendering outstanding medical services.
Its primary mission was to perform as a sixty-bed surgical hospital, however, in many instances the unit assumed the additional responsibilities of an evacuation hospital without loss of operational efficiency. Between 2 August and 5 October at Miryang, the unit furnished forward hospital support for all front line troops except the 25th Infantry Division, admitting 5,674 patients and in one twenty-four hour period handled 244 surgical procedures.
On another occasion, this unit processed 608 patients in one day. A total of 15,000 patients were cared for during the nine months this unit has been in operation, and the medical service rendered to the United Nations Forces was one of the highest caliber.
Under all types of conditions, this hospital has displayed outstanding initiative and aggressive action in performing its many missions.
Although the hospital was required to operate in no less than thirteen different areas in close medical support of front line units, its effectiveness and efficiency has excelled the high standards set by the Army Medical Service.
The MOBILE ARMY SURGICAL HOSPITAL, 8076th ARMY UNIT displayed such outstanding devotion and superior performance of exceptionally difficult tasks as to set it apart and above other units with similar missions.
The efficiency, effectiveness, and versatility shown by the members of the unit in the performance of their assigned missions reflect great credit on themselves, the Army Medical Service, and the military service of the United States.
Take a look at this link below for more pictures and storyline :
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/the-real-mash-units-in-korea.html
@ col mikel COL Mikel J. Burroughs @ ltc stephen LTC Stephen C. @ ltc stephen LTC Stephen F. @ ltc frank LTC (Join to see) @ ltc john LTC John Mohor @ maj william Maj William W. 'Bill' Price @ capt marty Maj Marty Hogan @ smsgt doc SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas @ tsgt joe TSgt Joe C. @ sra christopher SrA Christopher Wright @ msg andrew MSG Andrew White @ sfc joe SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL @ sgt david SGT (Join to see) @ sgt david SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth @ sp5 mark SP5 Mark Kuzinski SCPO Morris Ramsey @ po1 chip PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Alan K. Cynthia Croft @ po3 tom PO3 Tom Howard
Posted in these groups: Military History Emergency Medicine Korea 67J: Aeromedical Evacuation YouTube
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 6
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 7 y ago
Excellent video, SGT John " Mac " McConnell!
As most of us know the U.S. Army MASH has been replaced by the Combat Support Hospital, with the last MASH being converted to a Combat Support Hospital in 2006.
Of note, the highly popular 1970 movie was entitled MASH, consistent with Army terminology. It's only in the television series, which first aired in 1972, where you see the spelling M*A*S*H!
As most of us know the U.S. Army MASH has been replaced by the Combat Support Hospital, with the last MASH being converted to a Combat Support Hospital in 2006.
Of note, the highly popular 1970 movie was entitled MASH, consistent with Army terminology. It's only in the television series, which first aired in 1972, where you see the spelling M*A*S*H!
(3)
Comment
(0)
SGT John " Mac " McConnell
7 y
Always good to learn something new LTC Stephen C. . Thanks for sharing.
(2)
Reply
(0)
Alan K.
7 y
SGT John " Mac " McConnell - Told me stories of having his own ambulance to sleep in at times....Lot's of stories
(2)
Reply
(0)
Read This Next