Bullets and Bandages

The circle of life takes us in many directions. At times we can choose the roads you want to travel but in war our paths are not our own. Imagine living in fear that you were going to be attacked, blow apart or thrown into the jungle by the viciousness of the Viet Cong. Robert Morrison enters the army, takes training and is sent to Viet Nam where he and so many others will fight a war that seemed endless, senseless at times and took the lives of many men who fought for our country. The circle of life is smooth but in this case the cracks in the circle are what you will learn about as I recount the courage of the men in Bullets and Bandages.

The brother of the author was a US Army Field Medic with an elite Recon Platoon; Flash back to Vietnam 68-69 and take the journey along with Rob and his comrades as the they for survival, used their common sense, willpower and at times fear to overcome adversity most could not. The author relates the victories, the defeats, the deaths of those close to him and the memories of the mortar fire, the explosions, the fire, the hate within the faces of the enemy and the many dark nights that kept him alert, aware and inf fear of what might come next. Starting with the death of Yavik and his sergeant Jakes, Corporal Green and how they tried to save him. Rob was called Doc, and this was his first encounter with death. Sergeant Jakes took control and explained that mistakes take lives and keeping their weapons are ready on patrol would save theirs. Getting used to bullets and bandages would be hard but customary during this war. How do you deal with the constant threat of the V.C.? they were waiting in silence to abuse them, and you can’t help but being nervous and tense. Supplies ran low, deaths rain high and Doc, or Rob needed to adjust to the fears, rumors and stay calm. Their team was always ready to go but when they arrived or got their orders they could change as the location of the where they were needed  would too. With Lieutenant  Fellows takes his mien in the wrong direction down the wrong path we learn the intelligence, foresight and common sense of Jakes and Green. You experience the war, the fighting, feel the wounds, the shrapnel, the bullets and understand their frustration as supplies did not last, the proper meds were gone, and the bandages used up as well as their bullets or ammunition   and they needed to find another road to take to be safe. The body count rises in each battle fought, the blood spills all over them and the fear rises. They needed plenty of Ammo and prayers as well as the help of the Sarge and dealing with the impact areas that would take many lives. Men down, help needed  morphine and trying to calm them down will anyone survive? Jakes, Green and Rob screamed for over so many times and went after the VC but as many  they saved they lost an equal amount.

Nightmares coming on and off, the shadows in the night of the enemies and the horrors of the war, the battles and the faces of the dead, the body count and the enemies lying dead would paint a permanent picture in his mind then and even now. How do you learn to anticipate the movements of the enemy? Facing it every day, sleepless nights and days, lack of energy but the spirit to survive never left him. Nerves frayed, on edge, guerilla war and having to learn to deal with the climate, the terrain, the lack of support when the transports were late the deaths of many leaders and the changing of commands too its toll on Rob, Green and then what happens to Jake is more than sad it’s tragic. How he dealt with it was not surprising, death comes to a man who died of a snake bite and yet his spirit lived on with him and Green the entire time they were at war. How did they handle taking on the responsibilities of overseeing so many men, and the new recruits? Reading each other’s minds and thoughts, taking flak from those that did not know what they had done and why they were late in coming to their aid, and hoping to keep their spirits high even when low. The types of rockets fire, Law rocket and grenade launchers and the fire power is described in detail The teams R-Team, and the others you get to know them on a personal level. Plus, the Marines were there to support them and the other companies they bonded, became one family. Some teams and their captain would learn the hard way as Charlies knew every dirty trick, no compassion and no remorse. You did not feel sorry when the were killed but had to admire Rob when he had to treat them for injuries. That had to be hard. Waves of M.V. A. and V.C. would tip their flares and Claymores and the ammo would be out, the mortar and rocket fire continues, and men died in his arms. More cracks in the circle but when will the path return to smooth?

Men in bad shaped, not enough morphine and bandages  using pieces cut from a town and hoping to save many lives, how did Rob keep his head? Waking from , a deep sleep when Green needed him to take some down time and eat but the choppers would not stop, and they had to protect this special Hill. How do you react when a captain and his men are killed due to bad judgement? Captain Hill was their next in command and yet he did want them to know how proud he was of what they had done thus far. Friendships were strong, and the different branches united and although Charlie might lose a round in a sense no one truly won it all. Letters from home, learning about his brother that was going to join up, wounded troops and meeting Betty Anne when in the hospital would change his life. Sometimes the good just might come and make you forget the bad, but will Beth Anne and Rob connect, or will the war take one more drastic step? Captain Walvic next in command and his ticket back home and he had been transformed here Saigon to replace the last one in command. New orders, down time for a while, Green injured but might be released and the war continues. Walvic walked the line with his troops and then turned then toward the chopped giving the sign. The trails, the paths, the jungle and the sounds would haunt them all. The quiet was the most disturbing as you could feel the eruption of fire that was just seconds or minutes away. Flowing the path of Jakes, they explained the importance of cleaning their weapons, dealing with wounds and hoping to see some family soon. But for some the war would take their lives, for Rob his path was rocky, hard and the last scene will bring tears to your eyes. How do you say goodbye to a friend as your plane is about to take off? How do you handle the sadness to come as author Robert Sanischalchi takes us inside the war zones, the minds of the men that fought, the women who helped them recover in the hospitals and the reminders of those that are gone that will never be forgotten? Memories are precious, memories can haunt, and he will never forget the true meaning of Bullets and Bandages and Bond of Brothers. Outstanding thriller that kept me glued to the printed page I read this book in one hour. Could not put it down.

Fran Lewis: Just reviews