10/01/2025
Nurse Catherine Barker served with the 27th Surgical Hospital in Chu Lai, South Vietnam, beginning in 1967. The facility was a 60-bed mobile hospital that used the MUST (Medical Unit, Self-Contained, Transportable) system, allowing it to be set up quickly and deliver advanced medical care near the battlefield.
Working alongside military surgeons and medics, Barker assisted in critical operations under relentless pressure. The hospital treated some of the most severe combat injuries, operating around the clock as casualties poured in from surrounding operations. During the Tet Offensive in 1968, the 27th Surgical Hospital faced overwhelming numbers of wounded but continued to provide life-saving care.
Her service reflects the courage and dedication of nurses in Vietnam, who not only provided medical aid but also offered comfort and humanity in the midst of war. Catherine Barker’s story honors the vital role women played in saving lives during one of the most difficult chapters of modern history.
