NORMASH

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

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.

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.