Wounded British Fusilier,
Thomas Wigg, aided by Captain Subburkishnan and
nursing orderly P. Tilari, of an Indian Field
Hospital Unit of 60th Parachute
FAPn.
The 60th 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 take part in 8th
Army's withdrawal out of North Korea. On
December 14, 1950, it formally became the
medical evacuation unit for the 27th
British Commonwealth Brigade (later
redesignated the 28th British
Commonwealth Brigade.) It supported this unit
throughout the war.
The 60th 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.
Some members of the
60th Indian Field Ambulance Platoon
jumped with the U.S. 187th
Regimental Combat Team at Munsan-ni on March
22, 1951.