Books and Documents

ARMY AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION

(MEDEVAC)

The introduction of the helicopter to the Army Medical Department`s traditional battlefield mission of medical evacuation of sick, injured, and wounded soldiers from frontline units to hospitals in the rear had its rudimentary beginnings in World War II. During the Korean War, the helicopter came of age and soon became the primary means for evacuating the most seriously wounded, injured, and ill soldiers from the very fighting front to mobile army surgical hospitals (MASHes) and rear area evacuation hospitals for life-saving treatment.  Helicopter medical evacuation, simply known as MEDEVAC, soon became central to the Army Medical Department`s concept of battlefield care and evacuation.  During Vietnam, helicopter MEDEVAC became known as "Dustoff", a designation it has retained ever since. The section will provide articles, books, interviews, and unpublished historical documents that tell the story of the Army Medical Department and helicopter medical evacuation since its beginnings.

Korean War to Vietnam Buildup (1953-1964):

Spurgeon H. Neel, Jr., Lt. Col., MC, "Medical Considerations in Helicopter Evacuation," U.S. Armed Forces Medical Journal, Volume V, No. 2 (February 1954).

Spurgeon H. Neel, Jr., Lt. Col., MC, "Medical Evacuation in Korea," U.S. Armed Forces Medical Journal, Volume VI, No. 5 (May 1955).

Thomas N. Page, Col., MC, and Spurgeon H. Neel, Jr., Lt. Col., MC, "Army Aeromedical Evacuation," U.S. Armed Forces Medical Journal, Volume VIII, No. 8 (August 1957).

Vietnam (1964-1973):

DustOff: Army Aeromedical Evacuation in Vietnam

Interview with Medal of Honor Recipient CW4 Michael J. Novosel