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Korean War Casualty Information

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

FOREWORD

PREFACE

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

FOUR - Hospitalization in Korea

    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

Appendix

  1. Methods of Computation (PDF File)
  2. 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 Primary Cause of Separation.
  3. Evacuee, Remaining, and Disposition Factors (four tables) for Patients Admitted to Hospital on One Day of Operations in Overseas Theaters


Illustrations

  1. U.S. Army divisions and regiments as percent of U.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-December 1953
     
  3. Disease admissions, by diagnostic class and type of unit, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-Decornber 1953
     
  4. Cumulative percentage distributions of average U.S. Army divisional hit rates (KIA, WIA-CRO, and WIA admissions), by type of tactical operation, Korean War
     
  5. Final demarcation line between north and south Korea, 27 July 1953
     
  6. Causative agents of wounded or injured in action admissions, by type of operation, all U.S. infantry divisions and regimental combat 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 regimental combat teams, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
     
  8. Anatomical location of wounded or injured in action as a percent of all admissions for each respective type of operation, all U.S. Army infantry divisions and regimental combat teams, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
     
  9. Anatomical location of wounded or injured in action admissions, by selected periods of time, all U.S. Army infantry divisions and regimental combat teams, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
     
  10. Average number of days elapsed before evacuation from Japan-Korea, U.S. Army personnel, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
     
  11. Number of U.S. Army evacuees received in United States from Japan-Korea, monthly by cause of evacuation, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
     
  12. Percentages of battle evacuees received in United States compared with percentage of battle admissions in Korea, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
     
  13. Accumulation and accumulation-decumulation of wounded hospital admissions, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53, converted to one patient per day
     
  14. Subdivisions of the remaining curve, by echelon of hospitalization
     
  15. Percentage of wounded hospital admissions evacuated, by length of evacuation policy, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53


Tables

  1. Distribution of U.S. Army division and non-division monthly mean strength, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
     
  2. Distribution of division and separate regimental combat 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 admissions to medical treatment facilities, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
     
  5. Distribution of average mean strength and killed in action; battle and nonbattle admissions to medical treatment facilities, by type of combat unit: number, percent, and rate, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
     
  6. Nonbattle admissions and CRO cases for division and non-division, by period and type of case, U.S. Army, Korea
     
  7. Admissions due to battle injuries and wounds by type of unit and diagnosing, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
     
  8. Number and percent distribution of out patient cases carded for record only, by type of unit, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-December 1953
     
  9. Outpatient treatments at U.S. Army medical treatment 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 hospital and quarters, worldwide: World War II and Korean War; and combat units by area of disposition and type of case, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
     
  11. Average duration of stay in U.S. Army hospital and quarters, worldwide, for nonbattle causes separated for disability, by year, 1950-53
     
  12. Noneffective rates, U.S. Army division and separate regimental combat teams, Korea, July 1950-December 1953
     
  13. Disposition of U.S. Army patients originating in Korea, by type of case and place of final treatment, U.S. Army divisions and regimental combat teams, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
     
  14. Killed in action and died of wounds, by type of traumatism, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
     
  15. Number of U.S. Army personnel killed in action and died of wounds, by age group, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
     
  16. Deaths and death rates for disease, by principal cause, 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 battle causes, by type of separation and year, U.S. Army, 1950-53
     
  19. Distribution of U.S. Army personnel separated for disability due to battle injuries and wounds, by primary diagnostic cause 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 major offensive operations, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
     
  23. Killed and wounded in action during major offensive operations, by tactical action, U.S. Army regiments, Korean War
     
  24. Killed and wounded in action, during pursuit and mopping-up operations, by tactical action, U.S. Army regiments, Korean War
     
  25. Killed and wounded in action during pursuit and mopping-up operations, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
     
  26. Killed and wounded in action during operations maintaining static defensive lines, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
     
  27. Killed and wounded in action during operations maintaining static defensive lines, by tactical action, U.S. Army regiments, Korean War
     
  28. Killed and wounded in action during limited operations from main battle positions, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
     
  29. Killed and wounded in action during limited operations 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 withdrawal operations, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
     
  33. Killed and wounded in action during withdrawal operations, by tactical action, U.S. Army regiments, Korean War
     
  34. Killed and wounded in action, by type of ground operations, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
     
  35. Killed and wounded in action during ground operations, by tactical actions, U.S. Army regiments, Korean War
     
  36. Admission rates, by type, U.S. Army division and separate regimental combat teams, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
     
  37. Disease and nonbattle injury, by type of ground 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 admissions and CRO cases, by type of unit and type of case, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-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 total hit (killed and wounded in action), by causative agent and nature of traumatism, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
     
  42. Case fatality percentage of deaths among wounded in action, by causative agent and nature of traumatism, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
     
  43. Killed in action, by causative agent and type of ground operation, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
     
  44. Wounded in action, by causative agent and type of ground operation, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
     
  45. Percent distribution for anatomical location of wounds, by category of casualty, U.S. Army, World War II and Korean War
     
  46. Fatality percentage of deaths among total, hit (killed and wounded in action), by anatomical location of wounds and causative agents, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
     
  47. Case fatality percentage of deaths among wounded in action, by anatomical location of wounds and causative agents, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
     
  48. Fatality percentage of deaths among total hit (killed and wounded in action), by anatomical location of wounds and nature of traumatism, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
     
  49. Case fatality percentage of deaths among wounded in action, by anatomical location of wounds and nature of traumatism, U.S. Army, Korea, 1950-53
     
  50. Killed in action, by anatomical location of fatal wound and type of ground operation, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
     
  51. Wounded in action, by anatomical location of wound and type of ground operations, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
     
  52. Nonbattle injury, by causative agent and type of ground operation, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
     
  53. Nonbattle injury admissions, by anatomical location of injury and type of ground operation, U.S. Army divisions, Korean War
     
  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, by category of personnel and by type of hospital within major operational echelon, U.S. Army hospitals, Korea, 1952
     
  59. Admissions to hospital, by cause of admission and by type of hospital within major operational echelon, U.S. Army hospitals, Korea, 1952
     
  60. Dispositions from hospitals, by type of hospital within major operational echelon, for selected types of dispositions, U.S. Army hospitals, Korea, 1952
     
  61. Percentage distribution of dispositions from hospital, by type of disposition, for selected groupings of U.S. Army hospitals, Korea, 1952
     
  62. Average bed occupancy and average duration of hospitalization, by cause of admission and by type of hospital within major operational echelon, U.S. Army hospitals, Korea, 1952
     
  63. All evacuees received in continental United States, by area, of origin and category of personnel, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
     
  64. Percentage distribution, by mode of transportation and type of personnel, all evacuees received in United States, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
     
  65. All evacuees received in United States, by specialized treatment required and category of personnel, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
     
  66. U.S. Army evacuees received in United States, by specialized treatment required and type of admission, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
     
  67. Percent distribution of U.S. Army evacuees, by specialized treatment, required and type of admission, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
     
  68. U.S. Army evacuees, by prior operation overseas, category of admission, and overseas areas, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
     
  69. U.S. Army wounded evacuees received in United States, by causative agent, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
     
  70. Number and percent of U.S. Army wounded evacuees, by type of traumatism, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
     
  71. Percent distribution of U.S. Army wounded evacuees, by anatomical location of wound, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
     
  72. U.S. Army wounded evacuees, from time of wounding to first medical care, 2 September 1950-31 December 1953
     
  73. Percent of U.S. Army evacuees wounded, reaching surgical and evacuation hospitals within a specified number of days after wounding, July 1950-August 1953
     
  74. Cumulative percentage reaching surgical or evacuation hospitals after day wounded, Army wounded in action evacuees by month wounded, July 1950-Auguat 1953
     
  75. Admissions for wounded in action and surgical operations, anatomical location and type of surgery, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
     
  76. Admissions for wounded in action with surgical operations, annual rates, and percent distribution, by type of surgery and type of unit, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-July 1953
     
  77. Comparison of admissions excluded to total nonbattle admissions processed, by type of admission with surgical operation, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-December 1953
     
  78. Number and percent, of nonbattle admissions processed, 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 of unit, U.S. Army, Korea, July 1950-December 1953
     
  80. Admissions for nonbattle injury with surgical operations, annual rates, and percent distribution, by type of surgery and 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 capture and by weeks in captivity, U.S. military  repatriated prisoners of war, Korea
     
  83. Number and percent of wounded in action by anatomical location of wound, U.S. military repatriated prisoners of war, Korea
     
  84. Number and percent with surgical operations, U.S. military repatriated prisoners of war, Korea
  85. Number and percent of results of psychiatric examinations, medical survey of U.S. military repatriated prisoners of war, Korea
     
  86. Number and percent of results of eye, lip, and mouth examinations, medical survey of U.S. military repatriated prisoners of war, Korea
     
  87. Number and percent of results of chest X-ray examinations, 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 wounded patients 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
     
 



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