The Mobile Army Surgical hospital (MASH) refers to a United States Army medical unit serving as a fully functional hospital in a combat area of operations. The units were first established in August 1945, and were deployed during the Korean War and later conflicts. The U.S. Army decomissioned the last MASH unit on February 16, 2006. The United States Army is the branch of the United States armed forces that has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... Combatants Western Allied/UN combatants: South Korea, United States Communist combatants: North Korea, Peoples Republic of China Strength Note: All figures may vary according to source. ...

The MASH unit was conceived by Michael E. DeBakey and other surgical consultants as the "mobile auxiliary surgical hospital". It was an alternative to the system of portable surgical hospitals, field hospitals, and general hospitals used during World War II. It was designed to get experienced personnel closer to the front, so that the wounded could be treated sooner and with greater success. Casualties were first treated at the point of injury through buddy aid, then routed through a battalion aid station for emergency stabilizing surgery, and finally routed to the MASH for the most extensive treatment. This proved to be highly successful; it was noted that during the Korean War, a seriously wounded soldier that made it to a MASH unit alive had a 97% chance of survival once he received treatment. Dr. Michael Ellis DeBakey Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D. (born September 7, 1908, Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States) is a pioneering cardiovascular surgeon and researcher. ... Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO code In military terminology, a battalion consists of two to six companies typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. ...

The MASH unit made its way into popular culture through the 1968 novel M*A*S*H by Richard Hooker, the 1970 feature film based on the novel, and the long-running television sitcom based on the movie. A 1953 film, Battle Circus, also took place at a MASH. Popular culture, or pop culture, is the vernacular (peoples) culture that prevails in any given society. ... M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, the original novel that inspired the M*A*S*H movie and TV series, was written by Richard Hooker, himself a former military surgeon, and was about a U.S. mobile army surgical hospital in Korea during the Korean War. ... H. Richard Hornberger (February 1, 1924 – November 4, 1997) was an American writer and surgeon, born in Trenton, New Jersey, who wrote under the pseudonym Richard Hooker. ... M*A*S*H is a 1970 satirical American dark comedy film directed by Robert Altman, based extremely loosely on the novel written by Richard Hooker. ... Inspired by the 1970 20th Century-Fox film of the same name, M*A*S*H (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) was an American television series about a team of medical professionals and support staff stationed at the 4077th MASH in Korea during the Korean War. ... Battle Circus is a 1953 film directed by Richard Brooks, who also wrote the screenplay. ...

MASH units continued to serve in various conflicts including the Vietnam War. In March, 1991, the 159th MASH of the Louisiana Army National Guard operated in Iraq in support of the 3rd Armored Division during Operation Desert Storm. The Vietnam War was a war fought between 1957 and 1975 on the ground in South Vietnam and bordering areas of Cambodia and Laos (See Secret War) and in bombing runs (Rolling Thunder) over North Vietnam. ... There are several military divisions known as the 3rd Division: Infantry divisions Australian 3rd Division British 3rd Division (World War I) British 3rd Infantry Division Canadian 3rd Infantry Division Finnish 3rd Division (Winter War) Finnish 3rd Division (Continuation War) Polish 3rd Carpathian Infantry Division US 3rd Infantry Division Armoured divisions...

In 1997, the last MASH unit in South Korea was decommissioned. A decommissioning ceremony was held in South Korea, which was attended by several members of the cast of the M*A*S*H television series. MASH units have since been replaced by the U.S. Army's combat support hospitals. 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Inspired by the 1970 20th Century-Fox film of the same name, M*A*S*H (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) was an American television series about a team of medical professionals and support staff stationed at the 4077th MASH in Korea during the Korean War. ... A combat support hospital (CSH) is a United States military mobile hospital delivered to the battle area in large containers and assembled by the staff into a tent hospital with scores of beds to treat wounded soldiers. ...

The last MASH unit was decomissioned on February 16, 2006: 212th MASH, based in Miesau Ammo Depot, Germany. The 212th MASH was the first US Army hospital established in Iraq in 2003, supporting coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was the most decorated combat hospital in the US Army, with 28 Battle Streamers on the organizational colors. The 212th MASH was deployed to Pakistan to support the Earthquake Relief operations. Its equipment was donated to Pakistan. The Kashmir earthquake (also known as the Northern Pakistan earthquake or South Asia earthquake) of 2005 was a major earthquake whose epicenter was the Pakistan-administered disputed region of Kashmir. ...

See also

• Field hospital
• Norman Bethune
• M.A.S.H.

Field hospital of the Radom-Kielce Home Army area, during the Operation Tempest of 1944 A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that takes care of the casualties outside the hospital buildings. ... Dr. Norman Bethune 1922 Henry Norman Bethune, MD (March 3, 1890 – November 12, 1939) was a Canadian physician, medical innovator, and humanitarian. ... M*A*S*H is a 1970 satirical American dark comedy film directed by Robert Altman, based extremely loosely on the novel written by Richard Hooker. ...

External links

• Office of Medical History for the U.S. Army Surgeon General
• [1] for the 212th MASH homepage