About this Unit
The 21st Evacuation Hospital was a U.S. Army medical unit deployed to Pusan, South Korea, during the Korean War. Activated in response to the North Korean invasion in June 1950, the hospital arrived in Pusan in July 1950 to provide critical medical care to wounded United Nations forces. Operating under challenging conditions, the 21st Evacuation Hospital played a vital role in triage, surgery, and post-operative care, handling thousands of casualties during the conflict’s early months. Its efforts contributed significantly to saving lives and maintaining the fighting strength of UN troops during the crucial defense of the Pusan Perimeter.
Historical Facts
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Rapid Deployment: The 21st Evacuation Hospital was among the first U.S. Army medical units deployed to Korea after the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, arriving in Pusan in July 1950.
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Critical Location: The hospital was set up in Pusan (now Busan), which was the last major port and a vital supply base during the early months of the war when UN forces were pushed into the Pusan Perimeter.
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Mobile Setup: As an “evacuation hospital,” the 21st was designed to be semi-mobile, able to move closer to or further from the front lines as the tactical situation demanded.
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High Patient Volume: During the desperate early phase of the war, the 21st Evac treated thousands of wounded soldiers, often working around the clock under primitive and crowded conditions.
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Innovations in Care: The unit played a key role in introducing and perfecting advanced medical techniques such as triage, early use of antibiotics, and rapid evacuation of casualties to the hospital by ambulance trains and later helicopters.
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International Collaboration: The hospital staff worked closely with Korean medical personnel and sometimes treated South Korean soldiers and civilians, as well as UN troops from other nations.
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Women in War: The 21st Evac included female Army Nurses who served on the front lines of medical care, sometimes under enemy fire, and played a vital role in saving lives.
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Living Conditions: Staff often endured harsh weather, makeshift tents, and outbreaks of disease such as dysentery and malaria, while maintaining high standards of care.
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Heroic Stories: Numerous members of the 21st Evacuation Hospital were recognized for bravery and dedication, including stories of surgeons and nurses operating for hours non-stop during mass casualty events.
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Legacy: The 21st Evacuation Hospital’s experiences in Korea helped shape modern military emergency medicine and influenced the design and operation of later MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) units.
