Black History Month: Recalling the first African American MASH Surgeon

[The Patriot]

February is Black History Month. In honor of those who served their fellow injured or ill soldiers with compassion and courage while providing medical care, Army Medicine is remembering physicians, nurses and medics to ensure their stories are not forgotten. Capt. Alvin Vincent Blount Jr. is credited with being the first black physician to serve in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital or MASH unit. Blount deployed with the 8225th MASH from Fort Bragg in 1952. The 8225 supported the 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, the 2nd Infantry Division (which was the most decorated division from the Korean War), the 24th Infantry Division from Fort Riley, and the 25th Infantry Division from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Blount would earn the Korean War Service Medal for his service as a surgeon.

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