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Bullets And Bandages
Bullets and Bandages is based on true events from the Vietnam War. The trials and victories of Rob and his friends pull you into a world of survival through willpower, tenacity, and wits. This story is not only an adventurous thriller, but it is also a story of love, horror, humanity, and overcoming. Suspense and drama are carefully woven together in this book for a wonderful tale.
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First published January 30, 2006
11 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Robert James Saniscalchi
9 books29 followers Hello and welcome everyone! Robert is an Award-Winning writer and author. Many have compared his Bond of Brothers Military/Political thrillers to "Clancy with a Sci-Fi twist." He's here to share his stories and perhaps be of some help to other writers. Robert enjoys writing about subjects in our history, family drama, and things readers can relate to in today's world and enjoy. The positive feedback, ratings and reviews on his stories keep him writing for more. Robert enjoys the great outdoors, football, going to the Gym, Reading, Movies and working with his hands.
His top-rated books have achieved some fine and honest reviews and can be found on Amazon, in eBook and Audible/ACX editions.
Robert is a member of various writing and reading communities. He's a semi-retired Master Electrician, and Author.
Robert became interested in writing stories after he completed English and Creative Writing at college. He was born in Belleville, New Jersey, and resides in Pennsylvania.
His top-rated books have achieved some fine and honest reviews and can be found on Amazon, in eBook and Audible/ACX editions.
Robert is a member of various writing and reading communities. He's a semi-retired Master Electrician, and Author.
Robert became interested in writing stories after he completed English and Creative Writing at college. He was born in Belleville, New Jersey, and resides in Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 15, 2019
Down to earth, simply presented, and told with a raw and natural elegance, BULLETS AND BANDAGES by Robert J. Saniscalchi is a heartrending tale of one young soldier’s tour of duty in Vietnam. Based on the stories told to the author by his older brother, there is no overdone narrative, it feels real, right and so natural and true in this fictionalized tale.
A trained Field-Medic, Rob was to witness and be part of the brutality of war, the first line in the battle of life versus death against the ravages of a bullet or worse, the loss of friends and enemies alike, the uncertainty of every moment and the bloodbath that became the daily price for survival.
Robert J. Saniscalchi spares us flowery prose, instead fueling the authenticity of his tale with raw emotions and the dialogue of men living with the constant threat of engagement with the enemy at any moment.
For those who endured and survived Vietnam, or who remember what it did to this country, this read will hit home hard.
I received a complimentary copy from Robert J. Saniscalchi. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Robert J Saniscalchi; 2 edition (November 28, 2013)
Publication Date: November 28, 2013
Genre: Historical Fiction | War
Print Length: 274 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
A trained Field-Medic, Rob was to witness and be part of the brutality of war, the first line in the battle of life versus death against the ravages of a bullet or worse, the loss of friends and enemies alike, the uncertainty of every moment and the bloodbath that became the daily price for survival.
Robert J. Saniscalchi spares us flowery prose, instead fueling the authenticity of his tale with raw emotions and the dialogue of men living with the constant threat of engagement with the enemy at any moment.
For those who endured and survived Vietnam, or who remember what it did to this country, this read will hit home hard.
I received a complimentary copy from Robert J. Saniscalchi. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Robert J Saniscalchi; 2 edition (November 28, 2013)
Publication Date: November 28, 2013
Genre: Historical Fiction | War
Print Length: 274 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
June 28, 2022
As a person living outside I don't know much about Vietnam war. But this book showed me the turmoil and feelings. A book which is equally engaging and kept me hooked. Loved it
April 29, 2024
"Bullets and Bandages" is a poignant tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of military professionals.
It's a compelling memoir providing a raw and intimate look into the experiences of a combat surgeon during wartime.
Through vivid and often harrowing accounts, Dr. Pisor recounts his time serving in the Viet Nam War, offering readers a firsthand perspective on the realities of war and the toll it takes on both soldiers and medical personnel.
The memoir is filled with moments of courage, compassion, and resilience, as Dr. Pisor and his colleagues navigate through the chaos of the battlefield to save lives under extreme circumstances. With its candid portrayal of the physical and emotional challenges faced by those on the front lines of conflict,
Overall, it is a gripping and thought-provoking read that leaves a lasting impression.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It's a compelling memoir providing a raw and intimate look into the experiences of a combat surgeon during wartime.
Through vivid and often harrowing accounts, Dr. Pisor recounts his time serving in the Viet Nam War, offering readers a firsthand perspective on the realities of war and the toll it takes on both soldiers and medical personnel.
The memoir is filled with moments of courage, compassion, and resilience, as Dr. Pisor and his colleagues navigate through the chaos of the battlefield to save lives under extreme circumstances. With its candid portrayal of the physical and emotional challenges faced by those on the front lines of conflict,
Overall, it is a gripping and thought-provoking read that leaves a lasting impression.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
July 3, 2022Synopsis: a novel which is based on the true events which had occurred throughout the US Army field medics, m throughout the Vietnam war.
My thoughts: though this novel is really well written and has many literary techniques which should be praised by. It just wasn’t for me. I should have done more research on the novel before agreeing to read this one through book tasters - besides the fact, the author should be proud of his piece of work. Thank you again Robert, for sending me a copy of you novel at will. I know you and your storytelling skills have inspired many readers.
(no star rating given)
My thoughts: though this novel is really well written and has many literary techniques which should be praised by. It just wasn’t for me. I should have done more research on the novel before agreeing to read this one through book tasters - besides the fact, the author should be proud of his piece of work. Thank you again Robert, for sending me a copy of you novel at will. I know you and your storytelling skills have inspired many readers.
(no star rating given)
September 3, 2008
Having read several different novels surrounding the Vietnam War, I found Bullets and Bandages by Robert Saniscalchi, to be the most realistic, indeed, horribly so. It is quite simply a fictional account of a young man’s tour of duty in Vietnam, based upon true events as told to him by his brother. Because the author did not hold back on either his own fear or the actual events he learned of, the novel becomes very realistic, and the characters are those that you would expect to find in a war that nobody wanted.
The book opens and closes in an unforgettable scene as Rob Marrino, our main character, sits with the father of Sergeant Green, who had become his best friend, and who had been killed just a few weeks before he was to leave the service and come home. Green’s father asks Rob to tell him about his son and to tell him what they have been involved in so that he might remember his last few years of life.
So Rob starts to talk . . .
When there is a war going on, if you are the right age, all of your friends are talking about whether to “join up.” Or so it was at the time of the Vietnam War. Rob Marrino’s friends were joining; he needed only the courage to talk with his parents about it. His father took it the best and told him that he would be proud to have his son serve his country, as he had, adding that he hoped that it would be the army that he joined.
During basic training, they were given an option to move on for more training as a medic, and Rob decided that sounded like something he wanted to do. What that decision resulted in was that he became “special” to his unit. Everybody knew that it was important to make sure “Doc” was ok, because their own lives could actually be in his hands. But Rob was not only a medic, he was an active participant in that war. Rob felt he was under a man with experience and knowledge—Sergeant Jakes. And soon he met Corporal Clarence Green. The three of them slowly became close friends.
Rob Marrino was a praying man. Or maybe he became one once he was in the throes of war. The readers don’t know. What we do know is that he prayed continuously. He prayed for the courage and strength to ignore his shaking hands and get on with wiping the blood from a soldier’s wound to see how bad it was, to give him a quick shot of morphine to ease the pain. He prayed for each soldier he helped and for those who didn’t make it. He prayed when getting ready to enter a battle. He prayed in thanks for each time they made it through. Rob Marrino had never been as afraid in his life as he was during his tour in Vietnam. His prayers calmed him and many were grateful for his calm reassurance as he took care of their wounds.
It was the lack of honesty, the innate evil of the enemy that was hard for many of our soldiers to accept. Rob, by now, used to that evil, finally came back to the primary camp and saw a Vietnam man snapping pictures of the compound. There were several individuals with him, pretending that they were being photographed, but what was being photographed was the placement of where everything was located. This was all occurring while guards were on duty. They later explained that the man was a local farmer and had been around there for about five years. Combat officers quickly saw the dangers and were constantly alert. Even in the camp, guards did not fully understand the horrors of what was happening in the bush.
There is a touch of happiness for Rob when he is wounded. He meets a young nurse from his home state, and they fall in love. Somehow you feel that there in the midst of so many bullets and bandages, God must have brought her to care for him, to provide, through her, just a bit of His love to a weary soldier.
This book is very graphic in the war scenes¾parental guidance material! On the whole, however, the story is one in which Americans can take pride. These are the true soldiers of our country, those in the lower ranks that fought for every inch that was won. Here was this man who made it through many brave tours, only to die from snakebite! There was that man who gave it his all, and then was killed during a training accident weeks before leaving for home. This story is about the men who prayed their way through the Vietnam War. I am proud to have had an opportunity to read this unforgettable story.
A Must-Read for those who pray for our American soldiers!
G. A. Bixler
The book opens and closes in an unforgettable scene as Rob Marrino, our main character, sits with the father of Sergeant Green, who had become his best friend, and who had been killed just a few weeks before he was to leave the service and come home. Green’s father asks Rob to tell him about his son and to tell him what they have been involved in so that he might remember his last few years of life.
So Rob starts to talk . . .
When there is a war going on, if you are the right age, all of your friends are talking about whether to “join up.” Or so it was at the time of the Vietnam War. Rob Marrino’s friends were joining; he needed only the courage to talk with his parents about it. His father took it the best and told him that he would be proud to have his son serve his country, as he had, adding that he hoped that it would be the army that he joined.
During basic training, they were given an option to move on for more training as a medic, and Rob decided that sounded like something he wanted to do. What that decision resulted in was that he became “special” to his unit. Everybody knew that it was important to make sure “Doc” was ok, because their own lives could actually be in his hands. But Rob was not only a medic, he was an active participant in that war. Rob felt he was under a man with experience and knowledge—Sergeant Jakes. And soon he met Corporal Clarence Green. The three of them slowly became close friends.
Rob Marrino was a praying man. Or maybe he became one once he was in the throes of war. The readers don’t know. What we do know is that he prayed continuously. He prayed for the courage and strength to ignore his shaking hands and get on with wiping the blood from a soldier’s wound to see how bad it was, to give him a quick shot of morphine to ease the pain. He prayed for each soldier he helped and for those who didn’t make it. He prayed when getting ready to enter a battle. He prayed in thanks for each time they made it through. Rob Marrino had never been as afraid in his life as he was during his tour in Vietnam. His prayers calmed him and many were grateful for his calm reassurance as he took care of their wounds.
It was the lack of honesty, the innate evil of the enemy that was hard for many of our soldiers to accept. Rob, by now, used to that evil, finally came back to the primary camp and saw a Vietnam man snapping pictures of the compound. There were several individuals with him, pretending that they were being photographed, but what was being photographed was the placement of where everything was located. This was all occurring while guards were on duty. They later explained that the man was a local farmer and had been around there for about five years. Combat officers quickly saw the dangers and were constantly alert. Even in the camp, guards did not fully understand the horrors of what was happening in the bush.
There is a touch of happiness for Rob when he is wounded. He meets a young nurse from his home state, and they fall in love. Somehow you feel that there in the midst of so many bullets and bandages, God must have brought her to care for him, to provide, through her, just a bit of His love to a weary soldier.
This book is very graphic in the war scenes¾parental guidance material! On the whole, however, the story is one in which Americans can take pride. These are the true soldiers of our country, those in the lower ranks that fought for every inch that was won. Here was this man who made it through many brave tours, only to die from snakebite! There was that man who gave it his all, and then was killed during a training accident weeks before leaving for home. This story is about the men who prayed their way through the Vietnam War. I am proud to have had an opportunity to read this unforgettable story.
A Must-Read for those who pray for our American soldiers!
G. A. Bixler
July 21, 2022
Honestly I was skeptical about reading this book, I have never read a book about war, not from a soldier's point of view at least, Robert Saniscalchi's writing style is impeccable. The action scenes are amazing. I would recommend keeping a box of tissues handy. It was a great read.
July 2, 2022
"Today everyone in the platoon works with energy and determination; it comes instinctively, when you know that you may soon be in a battle for your life."
War is a disease, a terrible affliction, a malady with no cure. The Vietnam War was one of these many disheartening periods of history, this disease killing many good and innocent men.
Bullets and Bandages is a book that invokes a sense of patriotism in the reader, a mutual sadness for the war.
One of the most realistic accounts of the war, the emotion and feel tangible through the words. Told from the perspective of an Army medic, it really is horrifying the hell that our soldiers go through. Reading the authors forward gives the story a personal touch. I cannot imagine how one goes about writing a novel such as this, my deepest respect to the author.
The story is a simple yet inextricably deep, many different themes and feelings all in one book. Each chapter has a different feel from the one before, something that keeps you riveted to each page. The battle scenes however, are so beautifully written, if something like war could be beautiful. Everything is meticulously researched, you can tell without even knowing anything about the war. The start and end connect beautifully, giving you closure but still leaves you wanting more. The writing is very inspiring and I hope to read more from this author in the future.
For all the veterans out there, no matter which country you support, Bullets and Bandages is one i strongly recommend for those interested
War is a disease, a terrible affliction, a malady with no cure. The Vietnam War was one of these many disheartening periods of history, this disease killing many good and innocent men.
Bullets and Bandages is a book that invokes a sense of patriotism in the reader, a mutual sadness for the war.
One of the most realistic accounts of the war, the emotion and feel tangible through the words. Told from the perspective of an Army medic, it really is horrifying the hell that our soldiers go through. Reading the authors forward gives the story a personal touch. I cannot imagine how one goes about writing a novel such as this, my deepest respect to the author.
The story is a simple yet inextricably deep, many different themes and feelings all in one book. Each chapter has a different feel from the one before, something that keeps you riveted to each page. The battle scenes however, are so beautifully written, if something like war could be beautiful. Everything is meticulously researched, you can tell without even knowing anything about the war. The start and end connect beautifully, giving you closure but still leaves you wanting more. The writing is very inspiring and I hope to read more from this author in the future.
For all the veterans out there, no matter which country you support, Bullets and Bandages is one i strongly recommend for those interested
September 1, 2022
All-round Pack!
Bullets and Bandages : Bond of brothers
Robert J. Saniscalchi forgoes flowery language in favour of letting the discourse of guys who were always on edge about coming into contact with the enemy fuel the authenticity of his story.
This book will be especially poignant for anyone who lived through or survived Vietnam or who remember what it caused to this nation.
The heartbreaking narrative of one young soldier's tour of duty in Vietnam is described in Robert J. Saniscalchi's BULLETS AND BANDAGES, which is down to earth, simply presented, and narrated with a raw and natural grace. There is no overdone narrative in this fictionalised tale, which is based on the tales the author heard his older brother tell him. Everything feels natural, right, and true.
Rob, a qualified field medic, was forced to experience and participate in the cruelty of war as the first line of defence against the effects of a gunshot or worse, the loss of both friends and adversaries, the unpredictability of every second, and the bloodshed that became the daily price for survival. It's an all-round powerful piece. I loved it! xoxo
Bullets and Bandages : Bond of brothers
Robert J. Saniscalchi forgoes flowery language in favour of letting the discourse of guys who were always on edge about coming into contact with the enemy fuel the authenticity of his story.
This book will be especially poignant for anyone who lived through or survived Vietnam or who remember what it caused to this nation.
The heartbreaking narrative of one young soldier's tour of duty in Vietnam is described in Robert J. Saniscalchi's BULLETS AND BANDAGES, which is down to earth, simply presented, and narrated with a raw and natural grace. There is no overdone narrative in this fictionalised tale, which is based on the tales the author heard his older brother tell him. Everything feels natural, right, and true.
Rob, a qualified field medic, was forced to experience and participate in the cruelty of war as the first line of defence against the effects of a gunshot or worse, the loss of both friends and adversaries, the unpredictability of every second, and the bloodshed that became the daily price for survival. It's an all-round powerful piece. I loved it! xoxo
February 15, 2020
Inspired by his own brother’s journey in Vietnam war, Saniscalchi’s military action tells the story of nineteen-year-old Patrick, who flew into Vietnam as a US Army Field Medic in January 1968 and went through ordeals of war exercising his tenacity, willpower, and wit.
The remarkable quote: “Courage is fear holding on a minute longer,” begins the narrative and paves the way for a fascinating military action tale that explores the deeper meaning of courage and friendship. Saniscalchi’s hero is an ordinary teenager who is barely trying to survive through tenures of war and that’s what gives authenticity to his voice.
Saniscalchi writes in a simple prose and successfully combines the pace and tension of an action thriller with thought-provoking examination of true faith, bonds of friendship, enduring family ties, and what it means to be human.
The book will appeal to a wide array of readership, including those uninterested in military action.
Thoroughly engrossing!
The remarkable quote: “Courage is fear holding on a minute longer,” begins the narrative and paves the way for a fascinating military action tale that explores the deeper meaning of courage and friendship. Saniscalchi’s hero is an ordinary teenager who is barely trying to survive through tenures of war and that’s what gives authenticity to his voice.
Saniscalchi writes in a simple prose and successfully combines the pace and tension of an action thriller with thought-provoking examination of true faith, bonds of friendship, enduring family ties, and what it means to be human.
The book will appeal to a wide array of readership, including those uninterested in military action.
Thoroughly engrossing!
June 14, 2021
Bullets and Bandages: Bond of Brothers is a beautifully written emotional story. The war in Vietnam is a subject many authors write about but a few succeed to present the facts in a way that the reader can feel what the soldiers had felt. This author did it and I applaud him for it.
June 15, 2021
Well researched and very well written book. I can't stress enough how realistic is it. The horror that the soldiers go through is very nicely put and the readers can "see" through their eyes. I recommend.
August 20, 2022
Sad, nostalgic, and everything in between. If I were to have a glimpse of the past, this is perfectly how it would be. This book talks about friendship, loss and patriotism in a different perspective. It envokes different emotions-sorrow, fear, grief; a soldier going to war without knowing if he would come back alive, relatives dealing with a sudden but also expected loss. A beautifully written memoir that teaches us that knowing things and anticipating a loss does not lessen the pain.
October 21, 2022
One of the best books I have read.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. It holds true for the era. The main character seems a little naive, but, I grew up in that time period, and many of us were really that simple and naive. The story is told in a simple, straightforward, understated manner.
It is well worth the read. I felt emotions I had not felt for a long time.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. It holds true for the era. The main character seems a little naive, but, I grew up in that time period, and many of us were really that simple and naive. The story is told in a simple, straightforward, understated manner.
It is well worth the read. I felt emotions I had not felt for a long time.
October 16, 2022
growing up in the sixties and early seventies -> I had deeply foundational experiences. it is always interesting to compare mine with others who also grew up during those years. I missed the draft, my number was higher than those called that year; but I do remember (like Arlo Guthrie) getting a parking ticket on my windshield when I went into the selective service building. the author’s prose is highly readable and flowing, the story compelling, the characters and their insights profound.
October 23, 2011
Bullets and Bandages – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds – Desserts
“Where have you guys been?” I said. “We ran out of time! My buddy here needed help, but now he’s dead!” They tried to calm me down. The flight medic replied, “We’re sorry about your man. We left the base as soon as we had word. I’ve seen this snake before. It’s one of the most poisonous in the world. No one can survive the venom unless they’re right outside a hospital when they are bitten.” He was right. It wasn’t their fault. The choppers lifted off and banked over trees, but I just stared at the body bag, feeling so very tired. I would never forget him. He saved a lot of lives and lost his to a tiny snake. I prayed for him. I prayed for his family and for his lost soul; I prayed it wasn’t my turn next.
Sergeant Jakes had already survived one tour in Viet Nam. He knew the VC as well as the jungle. He knew what to watch for and what to listen for. Now he was now successfully taking his team through yet another tour. He had been through just about everything the VC could toss at him and lived through it. The one thing he didn’t live through was the bite of one of the most poisonous snakes in the world. One that made his home in the jungles of Viet Nam.
That was just one of many deaths that Rob Doc Marrino would have to face while serving as a Medic in Viet Nam. He would experience the horrors of war that only someone who lives through it can truly claim talking rights. Those of us who have never experienced this act of greed called war can never completely understand what these men and women went through. Some will tell us about their experiences, some just want to forget what they saw, heard and felt during their days in hell.
Being a baby boomer, I knew many boys who quickly became men due to the Viet Nam War. Most came back, some in the bowel of the plane, some in the passenger seats. A lot came back physically damaged while others came back mentally damaged. I have a friend who was there and luckily returned whole, at least in body. Now 40 years later, he, as well as many others like him still have nightmares that wake the house with his screams as he re-lives the horrors that took place right before his eyes.
As I read Bullets and Bandages I realized that the war horrors produced by Hollywood is nothing compared to the real experiences these men and women actually went through. Author Saniscalchi has captured on paper the events and stories that his own brother experienced as he served in the military in Viet Nam. He allows you to feel the bond of friendship that forms between yourself and your buddies. You experience the strength of their will to survive and the strength of true fear. But most importantly, their understanding of the importance of God in their survival.
I can’t say that I loved Bullets and Bandages but I can say that I didn’t want to put it down, that it made me hurt as well as cry and that I was so glad when the book ended. In the past I’ve heard men talking about their experiences in Viet Nam and actually blocked it out. Now I listen because these men and women need to be heard. They need to get their memories out in the open instead of allowing it to fester like a cancer until it consumes their whole body and life. And we need to be the ones listening.
ISBN# 978-1-58982-247-4
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“Where have you guys been?” I said. “We ran out of time! My buddy here needed help, but now he’s dead!” They tried to calm me down. The flight medic replied, “We’re sorry about your man. We left the base as soon as we had word. I’ve seen this snake before. It’s one of the most poisonous in the world. No one can survive the venom unless they’re right outside a hospital when they are bitten.” He was right. It wasn’t their fault. The choppers lifted off and banked over trees, but I just stared at the body bag, feeling so very tired. I would never forget him. He saved a lot of lives and lost his to a tiny snake. I prayed for him. I prayed for his family and for his lost soul; I prayed it wasn’t my turn next.
Sergeant Jakes had already survived one tour in Viet Nam. He knew the VC as well as the jungle. He knew what to watch for and what to listen for. Now he was now successfully taking his team through yet another tour. He had been through just about everything the VC could toss at him and lived through it. The one thing he didn’t live through was the bite of one of the most poisonous snakes in the world. One that made his home in the jungles of Viet Nam.
That was just one of many deaths that Rob Doc Marrino would have to face while serving as a Medic in Viet Nam. He would experience the horrors of war that only someone who lives through it can truly claim talking rights. Those of us who have never experienced this act of greed called war can never completely understand what these men and women went through. Some will tell us about their experiences, some just want to forget what they saw, heard and felt during their days in hell.
Being a baby boomer, I knew many boys who quickly became men due to the Viet Nam War. Most came back, some in the bowel of the plane, some in the passenger seats. A lot came back physically damaged while others came back mentally damaged. I have a friend who was there and luckily returned whole, at least in body. Now 40 years later, he, as well as many others like him still have nightmares that wake the house with his screams as he re-lives the horrors that took place right before his eyes.
As I read Bullets and Bandages I realized that the war horrors produced by Hollywood is nothing compared to the real experiences these men and women actually went through. Author Saniscalchi has captured on paper the events and stories that his own brother experienced as he served in the military in Viet Nam. He allows you to feel the bond of friendship that forms between yourself and your buddies. You experience the strength of their will to survive and the strength of true fear. But most importantly, their understanding of the importance of God in their survival.
I can’t say that I loved Bullets and Bandages but I can say that I didn’t want to put it down, that it made me hurt as well as cry and that I was so glad when the book ended. In the past I’ve heard men talking about their experiences in Viet Nam and actually blocked it out. Now I listen because these men and women need to be heard. They need to get their memories out in the open instead of allowing it to fester like a cancer until it consumes their whole body and life. And we need to be the ones listening.
ISBN# 978-1-58982-247-4
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
November 2, 2022
I have no real experiences with war but having read several books on the same, I must admit that Bullets and Bandages is one of the realistically told war stories. At some point I imagined I was on that battlefield. The book is interesting and arouses a number of emotions while reading. it also shows the importance of our soldiers and how much they endure all for their country. I recommend this for everyone that still doesn't importance to the armies of their nations. There is so much they sacrifice.
Thank you Robert for such an amazing book.
Thank you Robert for such an amazing book.
August 18, 2022
Esta novela es básicamente las memorias de personas que vivieron la experiencia de luchar en Vietnam lo que la distingue de otras novelas que hablan sobre esos sucesos pues no se centra en la política si no mas bien en la experiencia de los soldados, los médicos, las personas que vivieron todo esta situación y como fue su vida después de aquella experiencia.
Conocemos a Rob Marrino de Nueva Jersey, se alista en el ejército en 1967, se capacita durante un año en lo básico de medicina y después es enviado a Vietnam, donde conoce a Clarence Green forjando una fuerte amistad al ir venciendo diversos obstáculos. También conoce al amor de su vida, una enfermera llamada Beth Anne.
Podemos ver la guerra a través de los ojos de los médicos, el trato con los soldados, los lesionados, podemos ver también el desarrollo humano, el liderazgo, la organización, amistades, las difíciles perdidas que tienen que vivir, la incertidumbre, hay bastante acción y drama y lo mas increíble es que mucho de esto realmente paso así, el autor es practico y la lectura es sencilla, amena, un libro sin duda bastante interesante.
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This novel is basically the memories of people who lived through the experience of fighting in Vietnam, which distinguishes it from other novels that talk about those events because it does not focus on politics but rather on the experience of the soldiers, the doctors, the people who lived through this whole situation and what their life was like after that experience.
We meet Rob Marrino from New Jersey, he enlists in the Army in 1967, trains for a year in the basics of medicine and then is sent to Vietnam, where he meets Clarence Green and forges a strong friendship as he overcomes various obstacles. He also meets the love of his life, a nurse named Beth Anne.
We can see the war through the eyes of doctors, dealing with soldiers, the injured, we can also see human development, leadership, organization, friendships, the difficult losses they have to live through, the uncertainty, there is enough action and drama and the most incredible thing is that much of it really happened like this, the author is practical and the reading is simple, enjoyable, a book that is certainly quite interesting.
Conocemos a Rob Marrino de Nueva Jersey, se alista en el ejército en 1967, se capacita durante un año en lo básico de medicina y después es enviado a Vietnam, donde conoce a Clarence Green forjando una fuerte amistad al ir venciendo diversos obstáculos. También conoce al amor de su vida, una enfermera llamada Beth Anne.
Podemos ver la guerra a través de los ojos de los médicos, el trato con los soldados, los lesionados, podemos ver también el desarrollo humano, el liderazgo, la organización, amistades, las difíciles perdidas que tienen que vivir, la incertidumbre, hay bastante acción y drama y lo mas increíble es que mucho de esto realmente paso así, el autor es practico y la lectura es sencilla, amena, un libro sin duda bastante interesante.
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This novel is basically the memories of people who lived through the experience of fighting in Vietnam, which distinguishes it from other novels that talk about those events because it does not focus on politics but rather on the experience of the soldiers, the doctors, the people who lived through this whole situation and what their life was like after that experience.
We meet Rob Marrino from New Jersey, he enlists in the Army in 1967, trains for a year in the basics of medicine and then is sent to Vietnam, where he meets Clarence Green and forges a strong friendship as he overcomes various obstacles. He also meets the love of his life, a nurse named Beth Anne.
We can see the war through the eyes of doctors, dealing with soldiers, the injured, we can also see human development, leadership, organization, friendships, the difficult losses they have to live through, the uncertainty, there is enough action and drama and the most incredible thing is that much of it really happened like this, the author is practical and the reading is simple, enjoyable, a book that is certainly quite interesting.
April 17, 2020
Robert has clearly put a huge amount of work into this Vietnam war drama. For somebody who never fought himself, but has written this book as a clear tribute to the brave men who fought and died, with help from his veteran brother, the research and passion he has applied to it is admirably on show for all to see. I have read many Vietnam war memoirs, and I can truly say that this is as authentic an account as you will read from an author who was not present; the terminology, feelings of fear and anger of the men thrown into a strange jungle environment, battle procedure and knowledge are collectively a vast and admirable feat, and I respect Robert hugely for the sheer work ethic which I know has gone into writing it.
Robert clearly has a great story to tell, which continues even after the principal character’s tour is over – I have not read a war book written from the viewpoint of the field medic, and it was an interesting and welcome approach. This is an honest book – an important book – highlighting the impact of the horrific and hard-hitting realities of war, which Robert so vividly and artfully depicts.
There is exciting action in this book, incredibly well written, with some great set-pieces. The author has created a potential ongoing narrative, suggesting that there is real legroom with this cast of characters to continue their exploits after the Vietnam war – I’d even go as far as to say that the potential of their adventures makes for a promising sequel, which I believe Robert has written, with several other books in the series, which I look forward to reading with anticipation. Robert constructs a good story and develops an endearing lead well – for pure hard work, research ethic and attention to detail, there are not many as conscientious as Robert, and I respect and applaud him sincerely for what he has achieved with Bullets and Bandages.
Robert clearly has a great story to tell, which continues even after the principal character’s tour is over – I have not read a war book written from the viewpoint of the field medic, and it was an interesting and welcome approach. This is an honest book – an important book – highlighting the impact of the horrific and hard-hitting realities of war, which Robert so vividly and artfully depicts.
There is exciting action in this book, incredibly well written, with some great set-pieces. The author has created a potential ongoing narrative, suggesting that there is real legroom with this cast of characters to continue their exploits after the Vietnam war – I’d even go as far as to say that the potential of their adventures makes for a promising sequel, which I believe Robert has written, with several other books in the series, which I look forward to reading with anticipation. Robert constructs a good story and develops an endearing lead well – for pure hard work, research ethic and attention to detail, there are not many as conscientious as Robert, and I respect and applaud him sincerely for what he has achieved with Bullets and Bandages.
July 3, 2022
Novels about Vietnam are generally loaded with political perspectives about the war, either pro or con. This novel, gratefully, avoids such topics. It is a matter-of-fact memoir, written in a way to distinguish itself from other war novels. In this story, Rob Marrino, from a New Jersey family of 6 children, enlists in the army in 1967. After a year of basic and medical training, Marrino is shipped off to a year in Vietnam. There, he befriends a man named Clarence Green, and the two manage to make it through a series of conflicts. He also meets the love of his life, a nurse named Beth Anne. The opening of the novel reveals that Marrino is relating the story of his adventure with Green to Green's father, and in the end Marrino attends Green's funeral.
How does this story distinguish itself from others? As mentioned, it is told in a matter-of-fact manner; there are judgments made about fellow soldiers, but few about the war itself. In my opinion, the novel accurately reflects the uncertainty experienced by US soldiers in Vietnam (who is the enemy? is the person who was friendly yesterday an enemy today?). What also separates this book is the fear constantly displayed by the main character, as well as his reliance on prayer.
I suspect that when you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down until you finish. That was my experience.
How does this story distinguish itself from others? As mentioned, it is told in a matter-of-fact manner; there are judgments made about fellow soldiers, but few about the war itself. In my opinion, the novel accurately reflects the uncertainty experienced by US soldiers in Vietnam (who is the enemy? is the person who was friendly yesterday an enemy today?). What also separates this book is the fear constantly displayed by the main character, as well as his reliance on prayer.
I suspect that when you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down until you finish. That was my experience.
August 15, 2022
I chose to read this book knowing that it was about a war. I wanted to see how war would be depicted. I was not disappointed. It was a very raw description of the Vietnam war from the eyes of a medic soldier. The reader is not spared the description of what happens in the war.
The reader is taken through the preparation and what happens when the soldiers were caught up in a fight or ambush. The reader is taken through what a medical doctor(main protagonists) does to treat his injured colleagues and what happens when he is also injured. We also get to read about the human aspects in life such as friendships developing, leadership and organisation and later on how he met the love of his life. The aspects of loss of friends is something we get to read about more often some from the fight itself and some others from aspects of being in the jungle. We are also taken through what happens when the soldiers get their days off, and later aspects of humanity when they meet kind folk. These are unfortunately very few.
I was not happy with the unbridled glee with which the killings of the Vietnamese soldiers were celebrated in the book. But I believe this bias might stem from my historical appreciation of what this war was about. Other than that, it was a well written book that was very easy to read.
The reader is taken through the preparation and what happens when the soldiers were caught up in a fight or ambush. The reader is taken through what a medical doctor(main protagonists) does to treat his injured colleagues and what happens when he is also injured. We also get to read about the human aspects in life such as friendships developing, leadership and organisation and later on how he met the love of his life. The aspects of loss of friends is something we get to read about more often some from the fight itself and some others from aspects of being in the jungle. We are also taken through what happens when the soldiers get their days off, and later aspects of humanity when they meet kind folk. These are unfortunately very few.
I was not happy with the unbridled glee with which the killings of the Vietnamese soldiers were celebrated in the book. But I believe this bias might stem from my historical appreciation of what this war was about. Other than that, it was a well written book that was very easy to read.
January 4, 2014
Bullets and Bandages by Robert Saniscalchi is a 248 page story written about true events (and some fiction) that happened to his brother during the Vietnam War. Saniscalchi wrote a very touching and inspired preface. It also explains why he wrote the book. The writing moves quickly and with such rich detail that everything mentioned is easily imagined. I truly had a mental picture of the surroundings and events as they played out. His dialogue sounded real and fit the unique and diverse characters.
The story is about Patrick, a US Army Field Medic, who flew into Vietnam on January 10th, 1968, and what happens to him. This struck a chord with me as my late father was a US Air Force Field Medic, during the Korean War. I would like to commend Saniscalchi on his writing. I think he captured the feel and atmosphere for that time period and volatile situation. This is a highly recommended book.
The story is about Patrick, a US Army Field Medic, who flew into Vietnam on January 10th, 1968, and what happens to him. This struck a chord with me as my late father was a US Air Force Field Medic, during the Korean War. I would like to commend Saniscalchi on his writing. I think he captured the feel and atmosphere for that time period and volatile situation. This is a highly recommended book.
September 2, 2012
Bullets and Bandages by Robert J. Saniscalchi
The whole story is based on true events from the field, based as a medic in Vietnam during 1968-1969. It is well written and you feel like you are on the front with our men/women. It's a story about survival, adventure, horror, suspense. There are some moving & sad parts as well as happy memories. If you enjoy war stories or anything that comes from true events you will definitely need to add this to your list to read.
The whole story is based on true events from the field, based as a medic in Vietnam during 1968-1969. It is well written and you feel like you are on the front with our men/women. It's a story about survival, adventure, horror, suspense. There are some moving & sad parts as well as happy memories. If you enjoy war stories or anything that comes from true events you will definitely need to add this to your list to read.
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October 30, 2021A home spun war story!
I really liked Bullets and Bandages, an accounting of a medic’s time in Vietnam told through the memories of his younger brother who listened to his older brother’s stories about the “Nam”. It was fun picking out the parts of the story that sounded like the war memories an older brother would share with a younger brother when out on a hunting trip. Robert Saniscalchi cleverly expanded those stories into a well threaded war story. Good writing!
I really liked Bullets and Bandages, an accounting of a medic’s time in Vietnam told through the memories of his younger brother who listened to his older brother’s stories about the “Nam”. It was fun picking out the parts of the story that sounded like the war memories an older brother would share with a younger brother when out on a hunting trip. Robert Saniscalchi cleverly expanded those stories into a well threaded war story. Good writing!
July 27, 2022
You learn about the war through Doc Marino as he starts in the army from a Private to a Corporal. His learning and survival are honed by loss and having good leadership willing to train and Mentor, providing lessons to the next generation which equipped the skills necessary to survive the battle field.
The sacrifice of so many gallant soldiers in war and the ripple of loss is felt and hopefully we learn from this, learn to dialogue , never choosing violence.
The sacrifice of so many gallant soldiers in war and the ripple of loss is felt and hopefully we learn from this, learn to dialogue , never choosing violence.
March 5, 2020
It’s War
My husband and I are both vets but I was lucky to miss out on combat. He came back changed after his tour. My father was the only one who could reach him since he did tour in Nam. I was trained to focus on the mission and being a scared human isn’t part of the mission. It was a good read.
My husband and I are both vets but I was lucky to miss out on combat. He came back changed after his tour. My father was the only one who could reach him since he did tour in Nam. I was trained to focus on the mission and being a scared human isn’t part of the mission. It was a good read.
September 26, 2022
Excellent, nothing else to say.
The author is an excellent wordsmith. He has a way of putting his feelings and emotions into print. I recommend this book highly, worth your time and money.
The author is an excellent wordsmith. He has a way of putting his feelings and emotions into print. I recommend this book highly, worth your time and money.
March 16, 2020
The book it awesome! It paints a vivid, and accurate portrait of the he'll of the Vietnam War and the heroes who served.
I highly recommend this book!
I highly recommend this book!
June 13, 2021
Vividly horrifying and so very true. Bullets and Bandages by Robert J. Saniscalchi is a fascinating read that can bring tears in your eyes. I recommend a hundred percent.
December 29, 2022
A really good book
This is a really good read about the war in Vietnam. It rings of the sad truth of that conflict and why we should forever honor the men who fought there.
This is a really good read about the war in Vietnam. It rings of the sad truth of that conflict and why we should forever honor the men who fought there.
January 20, 2023
A good and interesting story well told.
It was a good and interesting story well told bit was a little to long for story content and people.
It was a good and interesting story well told bit was a little to long for story content and people.
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