BOOK REVIEW: DOC: PLATOON MEDIC.

 Having exhausted my supply of new books I have turned to re-reading books from my library but decided to have a change of subject and look again at some of my large collection of Vietnam War books.

The author was drafted in 1968 and trained as a medic. He was posted to the 4th battalion 39th Infantry which was made famous by its illustrious commanding officer David Hackworth  also known as "Mister Infantry." Hackworth was a well known figure in the US Army of that era and his autobiography is a classic of Vietnam literature. Hackworth believed that even the average American draftee soldier could be victorious against the Communist enemy provided they were correctly trained and led. The author of this book was one of those soldiers and provides the soldiers view of that very successful strategy.

 Unfortunately for the US Army, Hackworth's example was not followed by other senior officers and he was consigned to professional oblivion by his peers who found his hard driving personality just too hard to handle. He was eventually forced to resign his commision following an unauthorised press interview where he laid out in great detail the failures of senior US Army officers which had resulted in the US losing in Vietnam.

Back to the book....the author provides a fantastic insight into combat in Vietnam with obviously a focus on the activities of medics in particular. The sheer misery of that war for the average US combat soldier is laid out in great detail and leaves the reader with a good understanding of why so many US soldiers who fought in Vietnam are still suffering to this day from the effects of their tour of duty. He also recounts the initial hatred  the soldiers of the 4/39th had for Hackworth before they realised that, in fact, Hackworths methods were working. From a situation where they rarely even saw the enemy but suffered constant casualties to a new reality where they started to inflict heavy losses on the North Vietnamese is clearly discussed.

The role of the medic is covered in depth and in the process the author provides a clear understanding of the bloody nature of combat in Vietnam. This is a really great book about the service of a very highly decorated medic in Vietnam and is highly recommended.