NORMASH

Norwegian field hospital in Korea from 1951 to 1954

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NORMASH

A Norwegian nurse tending to a Canadian soldier

Active| 19 July 1951–10 November 1954
Country|  Norway
Allegiance|  United Nations
Type| Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
Size| 83–105
Engagements| Korean War
Decorations| 2 × Meritorious Unit Commendation
2 × Presidential Citation

Military unit

Norwegian Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (NORMASH) was the Norwegian field hospital in Korea from 1951 to 1954, participating in the United Nations Command operations in Korea.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Personnel
* 3 Awards and commendations
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## History[edit]

On December 29, 1950 the Norwegian Red Cross received a request for a hospital to help in Korea. During the first days of 1951 a plan was drafted for a field hospital based on the American Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) with 60 beds and a staff of 83.

On March 2, 1951 the Norwegian Parliament approved the plan for a Norwegian field hospital.

The first group of personnel left Norway on the May 16, 1951, the next group left on May 23. The trip was a long one both in time and distance, and took the men and women of NORMASH from Stavanger to Tokyo via Munich, Nice, Naples, Beirut, Cairo, Karachi, Calcutta, Bangkok and Hong Kong. From Tokyo the personnel were transported to Seoul by military transport aircraft.

NORMASH was first established at Uijongbu, approximately 12 miles north of Seoul. The hospital consisted of both Nissen huts and tents and had a surgery with four operating tables. The hospital was later moved to Tongduchon about 40 miles north of Seoul, and was moved a third time to its final location a few miles further north.

In the first 40 days NORMASH treated 1,048 patients, of which 23 were civilians. All told NORMASH treated 90,000 patients, of which the largest groups were the U.S. (36%), South Korea (33%) and the various British and Commonwealth troops (27%). The unit also treated 172 North Korean and Chinese POWs.

NORMASH performed on average eight surgeries per day, with variations ranging from 1 to 64, and Doctors could spend 24 hours or more performing surgery on a continual stream of wounded arriving from the front.

In the fall of 1951 it was decided to increase the personnel from 83 to 105, and on October 26, 1951 the decision was made to maintain the hospital for the duration of the UN operation in Korea.

The hospital was also changed from a Red Cross hospital to a regular army hospital, and the personnel changed their Red Cross uniforms for regular US army uniforms and ranks. This also included Norwegian Army personnel for close protection of the hospital.

With the signing of the Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953, the hospital stopped receiving wounded soldiers, but a substantial number of civilian Koreans were now treated. Though an armistice was in effect, the stability of it was questionable, and the hospital was kept at the ready in case of a breaking of the ceasefire.

In the fall of 1953 NORMASH was the only hospital for four divisions in the 1st Army Corps. The hospital was kept awaiting the establishment of a Scandinavian training hospital in Seoul,[1] and it was not until October 17, 1954 that the hospital received orders to return to Norway. Four days later the last patient was released, and on November 10 all equipment was returned to the US Army.

## Personnel[edit]

In total 623 men and women served in NORMASH over seven contingents, five of which were before the Armistice. The hospital lost two members killed; driver Arne Christiansen was shot and killed in 1952 and laboratory technician Brit Reisæther was killed in a car accident in 1954.

## Awards and commendations[edit]

NORMASH twice received the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Korean Presidential Citation. All personnel also received the Norwegian Korea Medal. Though the most cherished and appreciated "award" is probably the visit by Marilyn Monroe which Major Enebakk reports "made the boys go wild."[citation needed]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "National Medical Center, Seoul". norway.or.kr. 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to NORMASH.

* Norway - the official site in Korea
* (in Norwegian) NORMASH - Korea - Norsk Veterannettverk
* (in Norwegian) Koreakrigen og det norske feltsykehuset Norwegian Military Journal article by Major (retired) Magnar H. Enebakk

* v
* t
* e

Korean War

25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953

Background|

* Korea divided (1945–1949)
* Prelude to war (1950)

Belligerents|

| United Nations|

* Republic of Korea
* Australia
* Belgium and Luxembourg
* Canada
* Colombia
* Ethiopia
* France
* Greece
* Netherlands
* New Zealand
* Philippines
* Thailand
* Turkey
* South Africa
* United Kingdom
* United States
* Arkansas Army National Guard
* 65th Infantry Regiment (Puerto Rico)

|

Communist Bloc|

* Democratic People's Republic of Korea
* China
* Soviet Union

Medical (non-combat)
participants|

* Denmark
* India
* Italy
* Norway
* Sweden
* Hungary

Political leaders|

* rok
* Syngman Rhee
* Shin Song-mo
* usa
* Harry S. Truman
* Dwight D. Eisenhower
* uk
* Clement Attlee
* Winston Churchill
* ca
* Louis St. Laurent
* dprk
* Kim Il-sung
* Pak Hon-yong
* Kim Chaek
* prc
* Mao Zedong
* ussr
* Joseph Stalin
* Georgy Malenkov
* Lavrentiy Beria
* Vyacheslav Molotov

Military commanders|

* rok
* Kim Hong-il
* Kim Jong-oh
* Chung Il-kwon
* Paik Sun-yup
* usa
* Douglas MacArthur
* Matthew Ridgway
* Mark Wayne Clark
* dprk
* Choi Yong-kun
* prc
* Peng Dehuai
* Chen Geng
* Deng Hua

Order of battle|

* Korean People's Army
* Republic of Korea Armed Forces
* Australia
* China
* United Nations contingents
* United States Eighth Army
* United States Seventh Fleet
* Korean People's Air Force

Military operations

• North Korean,
Chinese and
Soviet forces
• South Korean, U.S.,
Commonwealth
and United Nations
forces

| North Korean offensive
(25 June – 15 September 1950)|

* Pokpoong
* Chuncheon
* 1st Seoul
* Gorangpo
* Kaesong–Munsan
* Korea Strait
* Ongjin
* Uijeongbu
* Suwon Airfield
* Air Campaign
* Andong
* Chumonchin Chan
* Osan
* Pyongtaek
* Chonan
* Chochiwon
* Taejon
* Sangju
* Yongdong
* Hwanggan
* Hadong
* Notch
* Pusan Perimeter
* Masan
* P'ohang-dong
* Taegu
* 1st Naktong Bulge
* Bowling Alley
* Battle Mountain
* Kyongju
* Haman
* Nam River
* Ka-san
* Tabu-dong
* Yongsan
* 2nd Naktong Bulge

|

United Nations Command
Counteroffensive
(15 September – 30 October 1950)|

* Haeju
* Inchon
* 2nd Seoul
* Hill 282
* Sariwon
* Pyongyang
* Yongju
* Kujin
* Chongju

Chinese Intervention
(25 October 1950 – January 1951)|

* Onjong
* Unsan
* Pakchon
* Ch'ongch'on River
* Wawon
* Chosin Reservoir
* Task Force Faith
* 3rd Seoul
* Uijeongbu
* Chaegunghyon
* 1st and 2nd Wonju

Combat around the 38th parallel
(January – June 1951)|

* Thunderbolt
* Roundup
* Twin Tunnels
* Hoengsong
* Chipyong-ni
* 3rd Wonju
* Chuam-ni
* Wonsan
* Killer
* Ripper (4th Battle of Seoul)
* Maehwa-san
* Courageous
* Tomahawk
* Rugged
* Dauntless
* Spring offensive
* Imjin River
* Yultong
* Kapyong
* Soyang River
* UN May–June 1951 counteroffensive

Air operations
(1950 – 1953)|

* MiG Alley
* Sunchon
* Strangle
* Sui-ho Dam
* Bombing of North Korea 1950-1953

Naval operations
(1950 – 1953)|

* Korea Strait
* Chumonchin Chan
* Haeju
* Inchon
* Blockade of Wonsan
* Han River

Stalemate
(July 1951 – 27 July 1953)|

* Bloody Ridge
* Minden
* Punchbowl
* Heartbreak Ridge
* Han River
* Commando
* 1st Maryang-san
* Haktang-ni
* Polecharge
* 2nd Maryang-san
* Sunchon
* Hill Eerie
* Sui-ho Dam
* Old Baldy
* Blaze
* White Horse
* Triangle Hill
* 1st Hook
* 2nd Hook
* Chatkol
* Outpost Vegas
* Pork Chop Hill
* 3rd Hook
* Outpost Harry
* Kumsong
* Samichon River
* Korean Armistice Agreement

Aftermath|

* Memorial Day
* Casualties
* War crimes
* Prisoners of war
* Armistice
* DMZ
* Korean DMZ Conflict
* Northern Limit Line
* Panmunjom Declaration

Popular culture|

* Documentary films
* Films
* Books
* Reenactment
* M*A*S*H
* Television series

Other|

* North Korea–South Korea relations
* Korean conflict
* Allegations of biological warfare
* American and British defectors
* Flying aces
* Impact on the economy of the United States
* MiG Alley
* Operation Blacklist Forty
* Operation Glory
* United Nations Memorial Cemetery
* Weapons

* See also:
* Korean War images
* Cold War

Portals:

North Korea South Korea War 1950s
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