Brigadier Arcot Govindraj Rangaraj, MVC was the first Indian para commando. He was an Army Medical Corps officer who went on to become an advisor to the WHO in Afghanistan and Iraq. His heroics and leadership was at its zenith during the Korean war, where he led a Field Ambulance as a Lt Col. The government of South Korea celebrated the 70th year of the Great Korean war in 2019/2020. Lt Col Rangaraj was amongst the many veterans and martyrs honoured in this year-long celebrations.
Lt Rangaraj was the RMO of 152 Indian Para Batallion in 1942. He, along with Hav Maj Mathura Singh made the first parachute descent in North West Province. On 10 August 1942, 60 Para Field Ambulance was raised as 60 Indian Field Ambulance. Lt Rangaraj was part of it and they saw action in Burma.
On 20 Nov 1950, 60 Indian Field Ambulance under Lt Col Rangaraj was sent to Korea to join forces of 21 nations under UN mandate. Heavy fighting was taking place because communists of North Korea backed by the Chinese army had invaded South Korea. It took part in a difficult airborne operation called ‘Tomahawk’ with the 187 RCF of the US Army at Munsan. A medical platoon of the Indian Field Ambulance called the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) was tasked to provide medical cover in this operation and 12 of its key personnel were para dropped with 187 RCF. The MASH personnel provided first aid to those with minor injuries in the battle zone itself under heavy firing. The seriously injured were evacuated to the MASH. Here they were treated and operated in a makeshift operation theatre, then shifted to adhoc ‘wards’. Conditions became worse during winters as the temperatures dipped to below freezing point. Civilians of nearby areas were injured in bombardments and shelling. They were also treated by MASH. The bravery of the medical personnel and the calibre of field surgery provided to the troops can be gauged by the numerous commendations awarded to them.
When the operation Tomahawk was completed, the MASH was asked to retreat by foot to their parent Field Ambulance. Lt Col Rangaraj realised that they could not carry the heavy equipment of the operation theatre in the long walk. To their good luck an old, abandoned, locomotive was noticed nearby. It had not moved for over two years nor were the engine driver/staff available. It was sheer ingenuity that the locomotive was made functional and the MASH could go back with its full equipment. To their credit, only 3 men were lost in the operation Tomahawk.
It was estimated that around 2.2 lakh patients, including civilians, were treated in the 2 years period of deployment by the 60 Para Field Ambulance. Many commendations and medals awarded by the South Korean government. The unit received citations from the US and Korean Army chiefs. The President of India conferred the Mahavir Chakra to Lt Col Rangaraj and to Maj N B Banerji. Seven Vir Chakras and 26 Mention in dispatches were also awarded. On return to India, the President awarded a special President’s trophy to the unit. A unique distinction as no other unit has been awarded this trophy till date.
On return to India, Lt Col Rangaraj rose to the rank of Brigadier. He specialised in Smallpox, then a killer disease. The WHO selected him as a consultant. His services were first utilised in Afghanistan and later in Iraq.
South Korea’s celebration of its 70th year of the great war was started in November 2019. Families of the veterans and martyrs from 21 countries were called to Seoul. A state dinner was held on the 20th of November in their honour. Heroes of the war to be specially honoured were announced. July 2020’s hero, Ltd Col Rangaraj was honoured by month-long activities. This included placing his photographs at public places and writeups in newspapers.
Incidentally, Hollywood made a movie called MASH and a ten-year running serial called M*A*S*H in the 1970s. Both were highly popular. They portrayed the brave deeds of the US airborne regiments and their mobile hospitals. In India, Lt Col Rangaraj is all but forgotten. Only the Parachute regiment remembers their first officer paratrooper as an AMC officer and has adopted the AMC’s maroon lanyard.
Author: Maj Gen Krishan Chauhan
Maj Gen Krishan Chauhan is a second generation army officer. He studied in Sainik School Kapurthala, graduated from IG Medical College, Shimla and did his MD from AFMC/Pune University. He has served in the Army Medical Corps for 36 years and retired as the Addl DGMS army. He is an avid marathon runner and a writer. He first wrote articles for children in The Young Chronicles. Later, he started writing his on blog as Genkris, on wordpress where over 25 articles on various subjects can be accessed.
