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Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) Spurgeon
Neel was a pioneer in the development of the principles of
aeromedical evacuation of battlefield casualties having chaired a
board which tested, evaluated, and recommended the use of the
helicopter in medical evacuation (MASH) roles. His recommendations
were put to use in the Korean War and, based on further experience
during this war, he developed medical evacuation policies,
procedures, and organizations which are the foundation of current
aeromedical operations.In 1954, Major Neel became the Army's first
Aviation Medical Officer, and in 1955 he served on the Department of
the Army board which conducted a design competition to select the
new standard Army utility helicopter, which ultimately became the
UH-1. The same year he established flying status for Aviation
Medical Officers and was the first Aviation Medical Officer to
receive flying status.In 1956, he established the Aviation Branch
within the Office of The Surgeon General and became its first chief,
later designing the Aviation Medical Officer Badge and becoming its
first recipient. Further, he established a formal program for Board
Certification of Army Medical Officers in Aviation Medicine and laid
the groundwork for the Army Aviation Medical Training and Research
Program. |
