Medic!: The Story of a Conscientious Objector in the Vietnam War

by Ben Sherman

A conscientious objector who served as a medic during the Vietnam War offers an unflinching, compelling account of his experiences on the battlefield, describing his work with the injured and dying in the heart of combat.

Genres: War, History, Memoir, Nonfiction

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 2002

Reviews

[Rachelfm]

I'm really excited that our book group chose a local author and that we'll get to have him join us at our meeting. I found the book to be well-paced with excellent dialogue. In contrast to "Matterhorn," which was written in Marine, the military terminology in this book added texture without making the meaning impenetrable.

I would have loved a little more about his growing up and his parents, and perhaps how the experience affected the arc of his life.

All in all, a really important perspective in a well-written, accessible book.

[Barbara]

Ok as far as it went. But the author never explains what convictions lay under his decision to refuse to fight or carry a weapon. And once he got to Vietnam, he only served as a combat medic for a few weeks. Although his account of those weeks is gripping, he quickly got himself assigned to a safer post. There must have been many war medics more qualified to tell this tale.

[Brad Ryder]

First confession: I read only half the book. So my four stars are inflated to give the author the benefit of the doubt about the second half. The book is not bad, just not what I expected. Sherman writes well. I picked up his book to find out what a conscientious objector's training might be like.* However, after Ben Sherman's account of the mean drill sergeants and what he goes through to get his 1-A-O status (for moral or religious or whatever reasons that he never fully explains), then he glosses over his medical training at Fort Sam Houston with a single sentence. If that's a spoiler, sorry, but I think the reader should be aware. Then he lands in Vietnam in the middle of an air strike (making me think of Brian Williams); I'm not saying it wasn't true, but so what? Maybe he immediately puts his new medical skills to use in helping his fellow soldiers (or maybe he doesn't). *Second confession: I applied to be a conscientious objector, but then they told me I could be in the middle of the fighting without a weapon. To hell with that. I do have to give Sherman props for sticking to his convictions, though it would have been nice to know on what they were based.

[Bruce Cline]

MEDIC! The Story of a Conscientious Objector in the Vietnam War, by Ben Sherman (2002, 288pp). This is throughly engaging story of a young draftee who refused to carry a gun, but who served as a combat medic in Vietnam. I believe he tells a true story, albeit one with (I am convinced) significant dramatization to make the points he wanted to make. It is one of the more gripping first person war stories I’ve read, in no small part because of how he brings to life scenes that are beyond my ability to imagine. Naturally, he explores conscientious objection in war time, but the bulk of his story is about people-to-people interactions in combat. I was gravely disappointed in the book’s ending, but found the narrative gripping. For all practical purposes, I read it straight through, notwithstanding hours needed to sleep and eat.

[Lance Fletcher]

While I do understand that the author is a product of his unfortunate times, I agree with some of the other reviewers that other medics would've been more qualified to spin this yarn.

He portrays the ugly side of war, but says little of the men who chose to fight an unjust war without the apparent bitterness of the author.

And his bitterness leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[Kevin C McNamara]

This book was a good recounting of one person's true experience. As such, it does not have a really well defined plot arc and does not try to be more than it is. Very informative look at the ground level of the Vietnam War.

[sunny kelly]

Five stars all the way.

I gave this book five stars as I was sorry to come to the end of it what a great read. From start to Finnish some great character's the dude hoppy was a blast definitely worth a read.

[Ted]

A sanctimonious biographical account.

[2Tall]

Medic! is an interesting account of a draftee (the author, Ben) who honors his personal beliefs and convictions without sacrificing his loyalty to his country and to his peers. It describes his journey, sometimes in graphic detail, of how he ended up in and then experienced the Vietnam war as a medic, without a weapon but also without shying away from the hottest combat experiences.
Many war stories are over-dramatized and/or over-romanticized and thereby lose their recognizability in exchange for ratings or thrill, just like the many police-, hospital-, or prison-stories out there. This book keeps your attention, probably abbreviating the boring intermezzos and focusing on the most eventful times, but not descending into scripted drama.
As a member of an interbellum generation, I am grateful I never had to face the choices Ben did. As someone who knew him years ago, I wish I had known this story at the time, but I am also glad I had a chance to read it now.

[Boo Walker]

One of the finest books I've read in my entire life. Should have made a much bigger splash. I can't recommend this enough. If you can stomach the war, dive in. It's as good as any novel out there. Superb writing all the way to the last word.

[John Burlew]

I would think that a more qualified medic in the army infantry could write a good book about his experience in Vietnam. This author only spent a couple of months in country before going back to the U.S. early… The book isn’t a total flop, however.

[Lori Mitchell Myers]

I couldn't put this down.

[Mick Maurer]

Loved this story.

[E. L.]

Enjoyed the book.

[Debbie Gibbs]

Gritty

This book was gritty and some was hard to read, but as someone
who lived through the Vietnam War it was a needed read.

[AK Alder]

This book will always hold a special place with me. I especially loved the ending and what it really means to write a memoir of Vietnam.

This quote from the graphic novel Watchmen is very applicable: “As I come to understand Vietnam and what it implies about the human condition, I also realize that few humans will permit themselves such an understanding.”

This book was so much more than a story about a conscientious objector. He typified the "every man", while telling a very rare story - one of the medic.

[Kate]

I really liked this book. I just picked it off the shelf in the library since there was anniversary stories of Vietnam in the news. I didn't realize the author was local until I got to the end of the book. I really liked how he told his story. (I like books with chapter titles for some reason.) If you want to learn about what it was like for one medic in Vietnam, I would definitely recommend this book.

[Torrence]

The author is kinda of annoying, I enjoyed it for its historial benefits solely based on my job as a medic in the army. Its interesting how this MOS has changed since Veitnam. I am hard pressed to find common ground with the author.

[Jacqueline J]

There is some stuff in here that will make your head twirl. Very interesting and different view of Vietnam.

[Suzanne Gillis]

Amazing story. Highly recommended.

[Heather]

Read only half. I didn't find it as thoughtful as I expected.