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Sharkbait: A Flight Surgeon's Odyssey in Vietnam
In early 1966, Dr. Guy Clark received orders to go to Vietnam, and upon arrival that June was assigned to be a flight surgeon at Cam Ranh Bay Air Force Base, on the South China Sea. Thus began a year-long assignment that would find Clark flying more than ninety bombing missions over Vietnam in the Phantom F4-C, plunging deep into the Viet Cong-infested jungle with a gaggle of Republic of Korea Marines in search of the remains of two lost Phantom pilots, and tending to the medical needs of the pilots he flew with.Sharkbait, A Flight Surgeon's Odyssey in Vietnam tells these stories and more, including Clark's survival of "Jungle Survival School" in the Philippines, and temporary assignments at Vung Tau (the "Riviera" for servicemen in Vietnam), Binh Thuy, and other Air Force outposts in Vietnam. Along the way, Clark introduces readers to incompetent doctors, arrogant and clueless military brass, and courageous pilots who day after day fly into the danger and uncertainty of a war that was becoming increasingly unpopular at home.Guy Clark's experiences as flight surgeon and doctor to the pilots who flew bombing missions every day were very different from the ground troops and helicopter pilots, many of whom have written eloquently about their own war experiences. Clark was a physician who dreamed of high adventure, and flying with the Phantom F4-C pilots was the ultimate high.
628 pages, Hardcover
Published May 11, 2017
About the author
Guy S. Clark
1 book8 followersDr. Guy S. Clark is medical director of The Arthritis Institute of Santa Barbara and The Osteoporosis Institute of Santa Barbara, Calif., which he founded in 1975 and 1990, respectively.
Dr. Clark received his bachelor’s degree from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and his medical degree from Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago. He is certified by the American Board of Medical Examiners, the American Board of Forensic Medicine, the International Society for Clinical Densitometry, and the American Board of Forensic Examiners, and board-qualified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He also is a founding fellow of the American Rheumatism Association and the American College of Rheumatology.
In addition to his directorships of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Institutes in Santa Barbara, he has served in numerous executive and administrative positions over the course of his career, including positions in occupational and emergency medicine, extended care and convalescent medicine, and laboratory and clinical pathology. He has served as a senior aviation medical examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration since 1971.
For his service in Vietnam, Dr. Clark received the Bronze Star, three Air Medals, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and the Vietnam Service Medal.
This memoir is based on almost daily entries in a personal journal he kept throughout his year of service in Vietnam, from June 1966-June 1967.
Dr. Clark received his bachelor’s degree from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and his medical degree from Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago. He is certified by the American Board of Medical Examiners, the American Board of Forensic Medicine, the International Society for Clinical Densitometry, and the American Board of Forensic Examiners, and board-qualified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He also is a founding fellow of the American Rheumatism Association and the American College of Rheumatology.
In addition to his directorships of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Institutes in Santa Barbara, he has served in numerous executive and administrative positions over the course of his career, including positions in occupational and emergency medicine, extended care and convalescent medicine, and laboratory and clinical pathology. He has served as a senior aviation medical examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration since 1971.
For his service in Vietnam, Dr. Clark received the Bronze Star, three Air Medals, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and the Vietnam Service Medal.
This memoir is based on almost daily entries in a personal journal he kept throughout his year of service in Vietnam, from June 1966-June 1967.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 8, 2018
Phantom back sitter in Vietnam
The author has written about his adventures in Vietnam and in the process has revealed a great deal about himself. He is very intelligent and obviously kept copious notes, perhaps, already laying the groundwork for his book. I rated the book 5 stars because any honest effort to educate the American public about the sacrifices made by our men in uniform has some worth. The author has made his family proud by keeping his moral compass, at a time when other American serviceman were indulging themselves in the nearby brothels and as a result having to be treated for venereal diseases. This is truly a different story, told by a man with a strong character, and I applaud him for having the courage to publish this book. I am sure that this book will have its share of opinions, based on all the different quotations, which were a distraction. I recommend this book nonetheless.
The author has written about his adventures in Vietnam and in the process has revealed a great deal about himself. He is very intelligent and obviously kept copious notes, perhaps, already laying the groundwork for his book. I rated the book 5 stars because any honest effort to educate the American public about the sacrifices made by our men in uniform has some worth. The author has made his family proud by keeping his moral compass, at a time when other American serviceman were indulging themselves in the nearby brothels and as a result having to be treated for venereal diseases. This is truly a different story, told by a man with a strong character, and I applaud him for having the courage to publish this book. I am sure that this book will have its share of opinions, based on all the different quotations, which were a distraction. I recommend this book nonetheless.
January 29, 2019
I loved this book, and I'm not a military story fan. It is full of military detail and technical things about flying (you can skim the techie stuff if you want or wallow in it). But it's also a very human story of one 28-year-old dropped into the Vietnam War and confronting the reality of war vs. his ideas about war very quickly. It's a true-story look into a very important time in American history, and a very personal very human read. I didn't always like Dr. Guy, or some of his pilots, but I always wanted to keep reading and find out what happened to them. It gave me some "staying-up-too-late-because-I-want-to-keep-reading" nights.
August 21, 2017
I received my copy via a Goodreads giveaway.
I have not yet finished reading the book, but I've cheated, and read the Epilogue.
I found the book to be diary-like; it's up to the reader to supply some of the context, which is only appropriate. I found the Epilogue to be a very rewarding section of the book; easier to read, surely, but more thoughtful than some of the very challenging but sometimes 'un-contexted' daily stories which form the bulk of the book. Overall, for students/readers of the era, especially including those after stories of 'adventure', this is really good stuff.
I have not yet finished reading the book, but I've cheated, and read the Epilogue.
I found the book to be diary-like; it's up to the reader to supply some of the context, which is only appropriate. I found the Epilogue to be a very rewarding section of the book; easier to read, surely, but more thoughtful than some of the very challenging but sometimes 'un-contexted' daily stories which form the bulk of the book. Overall, for students/readers of the era, especially including those after stories of 'adventure', this is really good stuff.
December 20, 2017
A. F. Dr year in Viet Nam
Interesting experience of young M.D. in Viet Nam as a flight surgeon during 66-67. Have read quite a few books on Viet Nam but this one was quite different than the average soldier or Marine out in the field. Books was a little long,could have been edited more,but otherwise was an enjoyable read.
Interesting experience of young M.D. in Viet Nam as a flight surgeon during 66-67. Have read quite a few books on Viet Nam but this one was quite different than the average soldier or Marine out in the field. Books was a little long,could have been edited more,but otherwise was an enjoyable read.
May 3, 2022
This book is repetative, could save 100 pages by editing. At 1st the phelosophy was anoying but I actually got into it and understand why it and the books read add to the story. In the 60's and 70's I thought it and in the 80's and 90's I said it. This is the 1st time I've seen it in writing. Comparing Vietnam to the American Revolution We were the British
June 18, 2018
Great book
Very well written and easy to read. Hard to put down. Dr. Clark has had a very interesting life. A must read for anyone interested in war, medicine, Vietnam, and flight.
Very well written and easy to read. Hard to put down. Dr. Clark has had a very interesting life. A must read for anyone interested in war, medicine, Vietnam, and flight.
August 28, 2018
Not a boring line
I judge books I read how good they are when I read every word.. This is one of those books.
I judge books I read how good they are when I read every word.. This is one of those books.
January 13, 2018
Vivid, great excitement and tension and sadness. Really good story.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews