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Doc: Platoon Medic
HE GAVE MEN A FIGHTING CHANCE... TO SURVIVE
Dan Evans arrived in Vietnam on October 7, 1968, a 21- year-old Army medic who couldn't stand the sight of blood. Thrust into the cauldron of combat, he soon became a seasoned veteran of emergency medicine and the brutal realties of war. Before his time was up, he would master the skills of a surgeon, acquire the patience of a saint, and demonstrate the courage of a lion...
Here, in his own words, is the gripping true story of Dan Evans, the highly decorated soldier whom the men of First Platoon, Bravo Company, called the "fighting medic." Experience the rage, the sorrow and the remarkable spirit of Dan Evans - the PLATOON MEDIC who became a true American hero.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 19, 2019
Tells it like it is
My father was a marine in WW II and although he only saw action on Guadalcanal, he wouldn't speak about his experience in combat. I joined the Navy and after a tour on a guided missile destroyer was sent to a RivRon in South Vietnam. I got whacked on the tenth month I was there, and finally understood why my father wouldn't speak about his wartime experiences. Like Daniel Evans, after I was discharged, I,too went to Veterinary School. I don't know whether people don't recognize how invaluable a corpsman is to a wounded soldier. His first moments when a guy is hit and what he does
about it ultimately makes the difference in whether that soldier lives or dies in the time it takes for that soldier to be airlifted to a hospital.
My father was a marine in WW II and although he only saw action on Guadalcanal, he wouldn't speak about his experience in combat. I joined the Navy and after a tour on a guided missile destroyer was sent to a RivRon in South Vietnam. I got whacked on the tenth month I was there, and finally understood why my father wouldn't speak about his wartime experiences. Like Daniel Evans, after I was discharged, I,too went to Veterinary School. I don't know whether people don't recognize how invaluable a corpsman is to a wounded soldier. His first moments when a guy is hit and what he does
about it ultimately makes the difference in whether that soldier lives or dies in the time it takes for that soldier to be airlifted to a hospital.
February 18, 2021
I wasn't sure whether or not to give it five stars - it's a really good book. It gets down to what a combat medic does (which is more than dealing with injuries in the field) and the circumstances. Not everything goes right, and not everyone goes home. It speaks to the practical - what do you do when you run out of bandages? - as well as the emotional; "What do you do when it's your buddy?"
I'm not sure I can write any more about it than that. I recommend it if you're interested in what medics do and where they do it.
I'm not sure I can write any more about it than that. I recommend it if you're interested in what medics do and where they do it.
January 14, 2015
October 7, 1968, Dan Evans arrived in Vietnam.
This 21 year old, queasy at the sight of blood, later became known as "the fighting medic" to the men of First Platoon, Bravo Company.
By the "cauldron of combat", doc (as they called him) became a "seasoned veteran of emergency medicine."
.....M-16 in one hand and an aid kit in the other.
His mission, both professional and personal was to treat the wounded amid the mud, blood and bullets,or to die trying.
We travel with Dan through combat and experience with him many of the brutalities of war.
His story is honest (you always knew exactly what he truly felt), poignant and personal.
I feel we had an authentic glimpse of the gut wrenching experience of facing the NVA and the extraordinary spirit required to keep moving forward.
A reviewer notes:
"I believe that anyone who reads this book will feel as if Mr. Evans has given them some tiny little bit of something they never had before. "
So true!
and of course I see a true American hero.���
This 21 year old, queasy at the sight of blood, later became known as "the fighting medic" to the men of First Platoon, Bravo Company.
By the "cauldron of combat", doc (as they called him) became a "seasoned veteran of emergency medicine."
.....M-16 in one hand and an aid kit in the other.
His mission, both professional and personal was to treat the wounded amid the mud, blood and bullets,or to die trying.
We travel with Dan through combat and experience with him many of the brutalities of war.
His story is honest (you always knew exactly what he truly felt), poignant and personal.
I feel we had an authentic glimpse of the gut wrenching experience of facing the NVA and the extraordinary spirit required to keep moving forward.
A reviewer notes:
"I believe that anyone who reads this book will feel as if Mr. Evans has given them some tiny little bit of something they never had before. "
So true!
and of course I see a true American hero.���
July 4, 2019
Great book, recommended reading about war in Viet Nam and those who fought in it. The author has put together a masterful biography and in it he has immortalized his name, his units, and those he served with. There can be no notion about the glorification of war and when asked to serve, when the country called, he stepped up and heeded that call when so many others shirked their duty. It was a horrible time for the country and as a result of his decision to serve , he lost a marriage, and ironically he found something more important , himself. The book should be required reading for every senior in high school in America because Doc Evans takes us to a time , when you had the draft looming over your head and many decisions had to be made about serving in the military, knowing that there consequences if the wrong choice was made. Doc Evans makes mention of the families of the fallen and in his book , he makes it a point to list the fallen at the back of his book, that speaks volumes of the man he is. I highly recommend this book.
July 10, 2019
Excellent first-person account from a different perspective!
This story chronicles the experiences of a medic who didn't think he could ever function effectively in a wartime environment but eventually overcame his fears to become a consummate first-responder and genuine lifesaver to many of his peers. It's a gritty, gory and dramatic narrative of frontline "grunt" soldiering in Vietnam that exposes both positives and negatives of human nature in the undesirable but unavoidable circumstance of kill or be killed.
This story chronicles the experiences of a medic who didn't think he could ever function effectively in a wartime environment but eventually overcame his fears to become a consummate first-responder and genuine lifesaver to many of his peers. It's a gritty, gory and dramatic narrative of frontline "grunt" soldiering in Vietnam that exposes both positives and negatives of human nature in the undesirable but unavoidable circumstance of kill or be killed.
July 6, 2019
Vietnam war hero tells it like it is
I highly recommend this book because so much is revealed about the character, recently married, and making a life changing decision to enlist in the Army during the Vietnam war. His story is worth telling because of his courage in the face of enemy fire as a medic, attempting to save wounded soldiers from his unit. He writes his story as he saw it and felt it. His marriage didn’t survive, but, he did and he served with distinction.
I highly recommend this book because so much is revealed about the character, recently married, and making a life changing decision to enlist in the Army during the Vietnam war. His story is worth telling because of his courage in the face of enemy fire as a medic, attempting to save wounded soldiers from his unit. He writes his story as he saw it and felt it. His marriage didn’t survive, but, he did and he served with distinction.
August 24, 2019
Great story about great men
Well told story about men who were hardly out of high school, but put into a position to fight in a war they never wanted, while their classmates faked disabilities and handicaps to keep them safe at home. This is a well told story of one brave young man who took it upon himself to care for others as a medic. Great story and well written. If you ever wondered what it was like to be a medic, this is the place to find out.
Well told story about men who were hardly out of high school, but put into a position to fight in a war they never wanted, while their classmates faked disabilities and handicaps to keep them safe at home. This is a well told story of one brave young man who took it upon himself to care for others as a medic. Great story and well written. If you ever wondered what it was like to be a medic, this is the place to find out.
April 8, 2020
Self-sacrifice
Heart-felt,accurate portrayal of his nightmare. Not all of us disrespected you when you came home. You are a hero in the eyes of the men you treated. I think this book should be read by people with no understanding of what the US was doing over there - fighting and dying. Imagine yourself in situations with mines and VC shooting at you. I love and respect you and your men more than I can say.
Heart-felt,accurate portrayal of his nightmare. Not all of us disrespected you when you came home. You are a hero in the eyes of the men you treated. I think this book should be read by people with no understanding of what the US was doing over there - fighting and dying. Imagine yourself in situations with mines and VC shooting at you. I love and respect you and your men more than I can say.
June 10, 2018
An excellent account of the trials and tribulations of being a combat medic
A really interesting and honest account of what it's really like to be a medic and the realisation that no matter how much you try you cannot save them all its about doing the best you can with what skills knowledge and ability you have.
A really interesting and honest account of what it's really like to be a medic and the realisation that no matter how much you try you cannot save them all its about doing the best you can with what skills knowledge and ability you have.
April 9, 2019
Way to go doc
This army medic not only took care of his men the very best he could with what he had to work with often under the worst circumstances but also fought by their side. As a navy corpsman I briefly had the privilege of helping some amputees coming from Vietnam to recover. I highly commend Dan on his efforts to get his brothers back to the world.
This army medic not only took care of his men the very best he could with what he had to work with often under the worst circumstances but also fought by their side. As a navy corpsman I briefly had the privilege of helping some amputees coming from Vietnam to recover. I highly commend Dan on his efforts to get his brothers back to the world.
August 24, 2019
Proud to be an American
I can not begin to say how brave these men were. Thank you so very much for writing this and allowing me to be a part of your personal experiences. Thank you so much for all you have done and for reminding all of us the importance of caring for each other. Thank you all for serving. God bless.
I can not begin to say how brave these men were. Thank you so very much for writing this and allowing me to be a part of your personal experiences. Thank you so much for all you have done and for reminding all of us the importance of caring for each other. Thank you all for serving. God bless.
June 19, 2019
Excellent book about a Vietnam medic.
This book was written in a way that makes you feel like you are there right alongside the guys that were really there. It was hard to put this book down. Highly recommended!
This book was written in a way that makes you feel like you are there right alongside the guys that were really there. It was hard to put this book down. Highly recommended!
July 13, 2019
Excellent !
Recommend to everyone! Factual and very well written. It was very hard to put down. Reminded me of 69-70 when i was there with the Navy as a Black Beret. An 18 year old combat advisor/English teacher. Give stars!
Recommend to everyone! Factual and very well written. It was very hard to put down. Reminded me of 69-70 when i was there with the Navy as a Black Beret. An 18 year old combat advisor/English teacher. Give stars!
May 9, 2020
Outstanding book!
I enjoyed reading this book. The authors were brilliant describing the action scenes. I went many times when men for hurt or killed. Thank you for your service and for sharing your experiences. Welcome home Medic.
I enjoyed reading this book. The authors were brilliant describing the action scenes. I went many times when men for hurt or killed. Thank you for your service and for sharing your experiences. Welcome home Medic.
April 6, 2019
Most realistic book on Vietnam
Closest feeling of being on a battlefield without really being there. Salute to the brave young warriors who fought for each other!
Closest feeling of being on a battlefield without really being there. Salute to the brave young warriors who fought for each other!
April 28, 2019
Th own to the wolves
With only ten weeks of training they think your a doctor to take on the worst cases of war. This is how we fight when the chips are not in are favor
With only ten weeks of training they think your a doctor to take on the worst cases of war. This is how we fight when the chips are not in are favor
May 27, 2019
A riveting story, well told by an amazing man.
It's a story that you don't want to put down. One of the best I have read of this war.
It's a story that you don't want to put down. One of the best I have read of this war.
June 20, 2019
Well written and enjoyable to read. The author didn’t just regurgitate events onto paper but strung the stories into an easy reading story. One of the best Vietnam era books I have read.
August 16, 2019
Excellent book about all those superb medics that took care of us . They and the helo pilots that flew the dustoffs were all heroes! This tells what the horrors they went through on a daily basis.
July 5, 2021
Excellent
A medic perspective is worth it, there are not many books with such a vantage pint and thoroughly enjoyed it.
A medic perspective is worth it, there are not many books with such a vantage pint and thoroughly enjoyed it.
August 20, 2024
Author tells his story in the Nothing held back-Joe six-pack manner. The Platoon Update and Epilogue chapters give closure to his story.
Only wish it had had some maps
Only wish it had had some maps
October 25, 2011
Though I'm not at all a reader of war stories, this book came highly recommended by a friend who went through the army as a field medic. He was definitely right to recommend it it -- it is an excellent book. It's harsh and ugly and the "good guys" don't always win in the end, but that's to be expected. Evans pulls no punches; he is unapologetic about the troops' behavior, attitude and language and does nothing to ease the blows (and injuries and deaths) as they come. Praise and crictism both flow freely, though he is able to distance himself from his own acts of heroism and manages to write of them without sounding egositical. While I can't say I "liked" this book, I'm definitely glad I read it. There are also a few pages of photos from his time in Vietnam and included is one of a troop killed in action. In the photo, he is so young, good-looking, and poses so casually that it is hard to look at. Knowing he was KIA, I found the photo very haunting and powerful and returned to look at it often.
August 13, 2023
Great first hand account by an army platoon medic in Vietnam 1968-69. Author becomes a member of the 39th Infantry Regiment, made famous by Col. David Hackworth. A fast paced narrative provides the reader with a good description of the interpersonal relationships formed during combat but also of the experiences of a front line grunt.
November 28, 2022
The story of a US Army medic serving in the Vietnam War. It is an autobiographical look at Evans' service in the war. Well written with insights into the mind of a soldier, a saver of lives, and a warrior.
June 9, 2012
As a Navy combat corpsman with the Marines, I read this with interest. It was ok
June 20, 2012
Read this book after reading 'Steel my Soldiers Heart' because it was used for reference. It was an amazing book that gives a different insight into the trials of war and those who give everything.
November 23, 2017
Good historical account of one medic's experiences in Vietnam.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews