BATTLE CASUALTIES AND MEDICAL STATISTICS
U.S. Army Experience in the Korea War
By
FRANK A. REISTER
THE SURGEON GENERAL
Department of the Army
Washington, D.C.
Contents
Chapter
ONE Casualty and Morbidity Experience
Units and Strength
Battle Casualties and Admissions
Outpatient Care and Carded for Record Only
Average Duration of Stay
Noneffectiveness
Type of Disposition and Place of Final Treatment
Deaths
Separations for Battle Disabilities
TWO Effects of Type of Operation and Tactical Action
Source and Limitations
Offensive Operations
Pursuit and Mopping-up Operations
Maintaining Static Defensive Lines
Limited Operations From Main Battle Positions
Defensive (Enemy Offensive) Operations
Withdrawal Operations
Summary by Type of Operation and Tactical Action
THREE Lethality of Weapons and Location of Wounds
Death From Wounding
Causative Agent and Nature of Traumatism
Causative Agent and Tactical Operation
Anatomical Location of Wound
Anatomical Location of Wounds and Tactical Operation
Nonbattle Injuries and Tactical Operation
Hospital Support in Korea
Hospital System in Korea, 1952
Source of Data
Outpatient and Quarters Care
Limitations of Data
Field Army Area Hospitals
Communications Zone Hospitals
Prisoner-of-War Hospitals
Category of Personnel
Cause of Admission
Type of Disposition
Hospital Death Ratios
Average Patient Census and Average Duration of Hospitalization
FIVE Evacuation of Patients From Overseas
Evacuee Report Card
Evacuation Policy and Days Before Evacuation
Type of Specialized Treatment Required
Category of Admission
Surgical Operations Performed Overseas
Causative Agents
Type of Traumatism and Anatomical Location of Wound
Time From Wounding to First Medical Care
Time From Wounding to First Hospitalization
SIX Surgical, Medical, and Logistic Considerations
Surgery and the Wounded
Surgery said Nonbattle Admissions
Medical Surveys of Repatriated Prisoners of War
Estimating Bed Requirements Overseas
Estimating Patient Accumulations and Dispositions
Subdividing the Remaining Curve
Nonfixed Versus Fixed Beds Overseas
Skipping Echelons of Hospitalization in Evacuation
Estimating Beds for Overseas Evacuees
A Methods of Computation[Adobe PDF file] (309K)
B Tabular Data (12 tables) for U.S.Army, Korea, by Month, Type of Unit, Diagnostic Classification Groups,and Tactical Operation; and Disability Separations by Detail of PrimaryCause of Separation.
C Evacuee, Remaining, and DispositionFactors (four tables) for Patients Admitted to Hospital on One Day of Operationsin Overseas Theaters
1 U.S. Army divisions and regiments as percent ofU.S. Army strength and regiments as percent of U.S. Army division strength,Korea, July 1950-July 1953
2 Percent distribution, nonbattle injury admissions,by nature of traumatism and type of unit, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-December1953
3 Disease admissions, by diagnostic class and typeof unit, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-Decornber 1953
4 Cumulative percentage distributions of averageU.S. Army divisional hit rates (KIA, WIA-CRO, and WIA admissions), by typeof tactical operation, Korean War
5 Final demarcation line between north and southKorea, 27 July 1953
6 Causative agents of wounded or injured in actionadmissions, by type of operation, all U.S. infantry divisions and regimentalcombat teams, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
7 Causative agents of wounded or injured admissions,by selected periods of time, all U.S. Army infantry divisions and regimentalcombat teams, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
8 Anatomical location of wounded or injured in actionas a percent of all admissions for each respective type of operation, allU.S. Army infantry divisions and regimental combat teams, Korea, July 1950-July1953
9 Anatomical location of wounded or injured in actionadmissions, by selected periods of time, all U.S. Army infantry divisionsand regimental combat teams, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
10 Average number of days elapsed before evacuationfrom Japan-Korea, U.S. Army personnel, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
11 Number of U.S. Army evacuees received in UnitedStates from Japan-Korea, monthly by cause of evacuation, 2 September 1950-31December 1953
12 Percentages of battle evacuees received in UnitedStates compared with percentage of battle admissions in Korea, 2 September1950-31 December 1953
13 Accumulation and accumulation-decumulation ofwounded hospital admissions, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53, converted to onepatient per day
14 Subdivisions of the remaining curve, by echelonof hospitalization
15 Percentage of wounded hospital admissions evacuated,by length of evacuation policy, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
1 Distribution of U.S. Army divisionand non-division monthly mean strength, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
2 Distribution of division and separate regimentalcombat team monthly mean strength, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
3 Percent distribution of U.S. Army and U.S.Army divisions, by type of combat unit, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
4 Annual rates for killed in action and admissionsto medical treatment facilities, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
5 Distribution of average mean strength andkilled in action; battle and nonbattle admissions to medical treatmentfacilities, by type of combat unit: number, percent, and rate, U.S. Army,Korea, July 1950-July 1953
6 Nonbattle admissions and CRO cases for divisionand non-division, by period and type of case, U.S. Army, Korea
7 Admissions due to battle injuries and woundsby type of unit and diagnosing, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
8 Number and percent distribution of out patientcases carded for record only, by type of unit, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-December1953
9 Outpatient treatments at U.S. Army medicaltreatment facilities, Korea, by category of personnel and type of treatment,1 June 1951-31 December 1953
10 Average duration of stay in U.S. Army hospitaland quarters, worldwide: World War II and Korean War; and combat unitsby area of disposition and type of case, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
11 Average duration of stay in U.S. Army hospitaland quarters, worldwide, for nonbattle causes separated for disability,by year, 1950-53
12 Noneffective rates, U.S. Army division andseparate regimental combat teams, Korea, July 1950-December 1953
13 Disposition of U.S. Army patients originatingin Korea, by type of case and place of final treatment, U.S. Army divisionsand regimental combat teams, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
14 Killed in action and died of wounds, bytype of traumatism, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
15 Number of U.S. Army personnel killed inaction and died of wounds, by age group, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July1953
16 Deaths and death rates for disease, by principalcause, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
17 Deaths and death rates for nonbattle injury,by nature of traumatism, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
18 Number of disability separations for battlecauses, by type of separation and year, U.S. Army, 1950-53
19 Distribution of U.S. Army personnel separatedfor disability due to battle injuries and wounds, by primary diagnosticcause of separation, by type of separation, and by causative agent, 1950-53
20 Frequency distribution of division-periods,killed-in-action rates, by type of operation
21 Frequency distribution of division-periods,wounded-in-action rates, by type of operation
22 Killed and wounded in action during majoroffensive operations, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
23 Killed and wounded in action during majoroffensive operations, by tactical action, U.S. Army regiments, Korean War
24 Killed and wounded in action, during pursuitand mopping-up operations, by tactical action, U.S. Army regiments, KoreanWar
25 Killed and wounded in action during pursuitand mopping-up operations, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
26 Killed and wounded in action during operationsmaintaining static defensive lines, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
27 Killed and wounded in action during operationsmaintaining static defensive lines, by tactical action, U.S. Army regiments,Korean War
28 Killed and wounded in action during limitedoperations from main battle positions, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
29 Killed and wounded in action during limitedoperations from main battle positions by tactical action, U.S. Army regiments,Korean War
30 Killed and wounded in action during defensive(enemy offensive) operations, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
31 Killed and wounded in action during defensive(enemy offensive) operations, by tactical action, U.S. Army regiments,Korean War
32 Killed and wounded in action during withdrawaloperations, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
33 Killed and wounded in action during withdrawaloperations, by tactical action, U.S. Army regiments, Korean War
34 Killed and wounded in action, by type ofground operations, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
35 Killed and wounded in action during groundoperations, by tactical actions, U.S. Army regiments, Korean War
36 Admission rates, by type, U.S. Army divisionand separate regimental combat teams, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
37 Disease and nonbattle injury, by type ofground operations, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
38 Killed-in-action and wounded-in-action admissions,by type of case, U.S. Army, World War II and Korean War
39 Killed-in-action and wounded-in-action admissionsand CRO cases, by type of unit and type of case, U.S. Army, Korea, July1950-July 1953
40 Percent distribution of battle casualties,by causative agents, U.S. Army, World War II and Korean War
41 Fatality percentage of deaths among totalhit (killed and wounded in action), by causative agent and nature of traumatism,U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
42 Case fatality percentage of deaths amongwounded in action, by causative agent and nature of traumatism, U.S. Army,Korea, 1950-53
43 Killed in action, by causative agent andtype of ground operation, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
44 Wounded in action, by causative agent andtype of ground operation, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
45 Percent distribution for anatomical locationof wounds, by category of casualty, U.S. Army, World War II and KoreanWar
46 Fatality percentage of deaths among total,hit (killed and wounded in action), by anatomical location of wounds andcausative agents, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
47 Case fatality percentage of deaths amongwounded in action, by anatomical location of wounds and causative agents,U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
48 Fatality percentage of deaths among totalhit (killed and wounded in action), by anatomical location of wounds andnature of traumatism, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
49 Case fatality percentage of deaths amongwounded in action, by anatomical location of wounds and nature of traumatism,U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
50 Killed in action, by anatomical locationof fatal wound and type of ground operation, U.S. Army divisions, KoreanWar
51 Wounded in action, by anatomical locationof wound and type of ground operations, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
52 Nonbattle injury, by causative agent andtype of ground operation, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
53 Nonbattle injury admissions, by anatomicallocation of injury and type of ground operation, U.S. Army divisions, KoreanWar
54 Patient flow and other hospitalization data,U.S. Army hospitals, Korea, 1952, all personnel, nonbattle causes.
55 Patient flow and other hospitalization data,U.S. Army hospitals, Korea, 1952, U.S. Army personnel, nonbattle causes
56 Patient flow and other hospitalization data,U.S. Army hospitals, Korea, 1952, all personnel, battle causes
57 Patient flow and other hospitalization data,U.S. Army hospitals, Korea, 1952, U.S. Army personnel, battle causes
58 Admissions to hospital for all causes, bycategory of personnel and by type of hospital within major operationalechelon, U.S. Army hospitals, Korea, 1952
59 Admissions to hospital, by cause of admissionand by type of hospital within major operational echelon, U.S. Army hospitals,Korea, 1952
60 Dispositions from hospitals, by type ofhospital within major operational echelon, for selected types of dispositions,U.S. Army hospitals, Korea, 1952
61 Percentage distribution of dispositionsfrom hospital, by type of disposition, for selected groupings of U.S. Armyhospitals, Korea, 1952
62 Average bed occupancy and average durationof hospitalization, by cause of admission and by type of hospital withinmajor operational echelon, U.S. Army hospitals, Korea, 1952
63 All evacuees received in continental UnitedStates, by area, of origin and category of personnel, 2 September 1950-31December 1953
64 Percentage distribution, by mode of transportationand type of personnel, all evacuees received in United States, 2 September1950-31 December 1953
65 All evacuees received in United States,by specialized treatment required and category of personnel, 2 September1950-31 December 1953
66 U.S. Army evacuees received in United States,by specialized treatment required and type of admission, 2 September 1950-31December 1953
67 Percent distribution of U.S. Army evacuees,by specialized treatment, required and type of admission, 2 September 1950-31December 1953
68 U.S. Army evacuees, by prior operation overseas,category of admission, and overseas areas, 2 September 1950-31 December1953
69 U.S. Army wounded evacuees received in UnitedStates, by causative agent, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
70 Number and percent of U.S. Army woundedevacuees, by type of traumatism, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
71 Percent distribution of U.S. Army woundedevacuees, by anatomical location of wound, 2 September 1950-31 December1953
72 U.S. Army wounded evacuees, from time ofwounding to first medical care, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
73 Percent of U.S. Army evacuees wounded, reachingsurgical and evacuation hospitals within a specified number of days afterwounding, July 1950-August 1953
74 Cumulative percentage reaching surgicalor evacuation hospitals after day wounded, Army wounded in action evacueesby month wounded, July 1950-Auguat 1953
75 Admissions for wounded in action and surgicaloperations, anatomical location and type of surgery, U.S. Army, Korea,July 1950-July 1953
76 Admissions for wounded in action with surgicaloperations, annual rates, and percent distribution, by type of surgeryand type of unit, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
77 Comparison of admissions excluded to totalnonbattle admissions processed, by type of admission with surgical operation,U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-December 1953
78 Number and percent, of nonbattle admissionsprocessed, by type of admission with surgical operation, U.S. Army, Korea,July 1950-December 1953
79 Admissions for disease with surgical operations,annual rates, and percent distribution, by type of surgery and type ofunit, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-December 1953
80 Admissions for nonbattle injury with surgicaloperations, annual rates, and percent distribution, by type of surgeryand type of unit, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-December 1953
81 U.S. military repatriated prisoners of war,Korea, by age group
82 Average weight lost by body build at captureand by weeks in captivity, U.S. military repatriated prisoners of war,Korea
83 Number and percent of wounded in actionby anatomical location of wound, U.S. military repatriated prisoners ofwar, Korea
84 Number and percent with surgical operations,U.S. military repatriated prisoners of war, Korea
85 Number and percent of results of psychiatricexaminations, medical survey of U.S. military repatriated prisoners ofwar, Korea
86 Number and percent of results of eye, lip,and mouth examinations, medical survey of U.S. military repatriated prisonersof war, Korea
87 Number and percent of results of chest X-rayexaminations, U.S. military repatriated prisoners of war, Korea
88 Number and percent of results of skin examinations,medical survey of U.S. military repatriated prisoners of war Korea
89 Number and percent of stool examinations,U.S. military repatriated prisoners of war, Korea
90 Field army accumulation-decumulation factors,by type of case, and specified evacuation policies
91 Theater accumulation-decumulation factors,by type of case, and specified evacuation policies
92 Accumulation-decumulation factors for woundedpatients by echelon, for a 5-day Army and 30-day theater evacuation policy
93 CONUS accumulation-decumulation factors,by type of case, and specified evacuation policies
[All in Adobe PDF format]
B-1 Numbers and annual rates for killed inaction, wounded in action, and nonbattle causes, admissions and CRO cases,by year and month, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953 (196K)
B-2 Numbers and annual rates for killed in action, woundedin action, and nonbattle causes, admissions and CRO cases, by year andmonth, all U.S. Army divisions with regimental combat teams, Korea, July1950-July 1953 (203K)
B-3 Numbers and rates for killed in action, wounded inaction, and nonbattle causes, admissions and CRO cases, by year and month,U.S. Army non-divisional units, Korea, July 1950-July 1953 (186K)
B-4 Summary of battle and nonbattle admissions: all divisionsand separate regimental combat teams, by type of casualty, diagnostic classification,year and month, Korea, July 1950-July 1953 (480K)
B-5 U.S. Army divisions and separate regimental combatteams, by tactical operation, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953(634K)
B-6 U.S. Army division headquarters, headquarters andservice companies, by tactical operation, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July1953 (616K)
B-7 U.S. Army regiments and regimental combat teams,by tactical operation, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953 (631K)
B-8 U.S. Army division artillery, by tactical operation,U.S. Army Korea, July 1950-July 1953 (598K)
B-9 U.S. Army division engineer battalions, by tacticaloperation, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953 (572K)
B-10 U.S. Army division medical battalions, by tacticaloperation, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953 (545K)
B-11 U.S. Army division tank battalions, by tacticaloperation, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953 (568K)
B-12 U.S. Army personnel separated for disability dueto battle injuries and wounds, by primary diagnostic cause of separation,by rank, by type of separation, and by causative agent, 1950-53 (115K)
C-1 Remaining and disposition, factors for wounded patientsadmitted to hospital overseas on any one day of operations, wounded admissionsin Korea, 1950-53, converted to one admission per day (220K)
C-2 Remaining and disposition factors for disease andnonbattle injury patients admitted to hospital overseas on any one dayof operations, disease and nonbattle injury admissions in all overseasareas, 1950-53, converted to one admission per day (222K)
C-3 Evacuee factors for wounded patients admitted tohospital on any one day of operations, wounded admissions in Korea, 1950-53,converted to one admission per day (191K)
C-4 Evacuee, factors for disease and nonbattle injurypatients admitted to hospital on any one day of operations, disease andnonbattle injury admissions in all overseas areas, 1950-53, converted toone admission per day (201K)
