60^TH PARACHUTE FIELD AMBULANCE PLATOON

The 60^th Parachute Field Ambulance Platoon was much more than the title “platoon” indicates. For all intents it was a mobile army surgical hospital (MASH.) Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel A.G. Rangaraj, it joined UN forces at P’yongyang on December 4, 1950, just in time to tape part in 8^th Army’s withdrawal out of North Korea. On December 14, 1950, it formally became the medical evacuation unit for the 27^th British Commonwealth Brigade (later redesignated the 28^th British Commonwealth Brigade.) It supported this unit throughout the war.

The 60^th quickly gained the respect of Commonwealth troops for its high-quality medical care and the courage of its people when under fire. Nearly all Commonwealth troops evacuated from the front lines passed through the unit before being evacuated to long-term care hospitals.

As a sidebar, some members of the 60^th Indian Field Ambulance Platoon jumped with the U.S. 187^th Regimental Combat Team at Munsan-ni on March 22, 1951.

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