Rasmus Movin

This content was supplied by family and/or community members

Bio

  Rasmus Movin was born in 1912 and completed his medical school training in 1943. After supporting the Danish resistance movement during World War II, he pursued training in various medical specialties that would prove invaluable during his service in Korea. At home, his wife, Nina, took on the considerable responsibility of raising their four young children alone while Rasmus embarked on his demanding mission abroad. Movin lived by a personal credo: “Nothing is impossible. Do it today, or somebody might come around tomorrow thinking it’s not impossible, and do it.”

Denmark’s contribution to United Nations efforts in Korea came in the form of the hospital ship Jutlandia, a converted cargo carrier that made three trips to Korea beginning January 23, 1951. The vessel had a capacity of 300 patients and was staffed by 93 personnel, including 15 doctors, 40 nurses, 20 nurses’ aids, and administrative staff. The ship housed five specialized hospital departments: general surgery, neurosurgery, thorax/chest surgery, jaw surgery, and a department for epidemic, psychiatric, and x-ray services. Despite having three operating rooms, the Jutlandia departed without air conditioning due to delays, so in the intense Korean heat, surgical teams often performed operations at night when temperatures were more bearable.

Rasmus Movin was one of the doctors aboard the Jutlandia, arriving in Busan, Korea, on March 10, 1951. He treated both soldiers and civilians and assisted the United Nations in establishing a hospital in Daegu. When the Jutlandia sailed back to Denmark after its first six-month voyage carrying wounded personnel, Movin remained ashore to help establish a children’s hospital in Daegu, assisted by other members of the Jutlandia crew. The need for medical care was overwhelming, and the team worked continuously during this period. Finally, at the end of 1951, an exhausted Movin returned home. For his dedicated service in Korea, he was awarded the American Bronze Star.

To learn more about Rasmus Movin’s experiences from his daughter’s perspective, Nina Movin’s profile is available on the Korean War Legacy Foundation website.

Photos

Extract from the Book: A Danish Doctor in Love & War

By Nina Movin

Extract from the book: A Danish doctor in love and war.

By Nina Movin