Assigned to Zama, an Army hospital in Japan, Glasser arrived there in September 1968 as a pediatrician in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, primarily to care for the children of officers and high-ranking government officials. But with an average of six to eight thousand wounded per month, Glasser, along with all other available physicians, was called on to treat the soldiers. The death and suffering he witnessed were staggering. The soldiers counted their days by the length of their tour—one year, or 365 days—and they knew, down to the day, how much time they had left. Glasser tells their stories—their lives shockingly interrupted by the tragedies of war—with humane eloquence.
The excerpts are telling…
Page 14…
Peterson was waiting with the medic near the edge of the pad. The chopper had barely touched down when the crew chief jerked open the door. The inside of the chopper was covered with blood. In the dim half-light of the landing pad it looked like drying enamel.
Peterson and the medic started running onto the pad at the same time. Hunching over to clear the swirling blades, the crew chief helped them into the chopper. The wounded man, his head hanging limply over the edge of the stretcher, was still lashed to the sides of the chopper. Blood welled up from under his half-body cast. Grabbing the top of the plaster cast, Peterson tore it off. A great gush of blood shot up, hit the roof, and then dying, fell away. He put his hand quickly over the wound and pressed down to stop the bleeding; he could feel the flesh slipping away from under his hand. Taking a clamp out of his pocket, he took his hand off the wound and, with the blood swelling up again, stuck the clamp blindly into the jagged hole, worked it up into the groin, and snapped it shut. The bleeding stopped. The bleeding stopped.
Assigned to Zama, an Army hospital in Japan, Glasser arrived there in September 1968 as a pediatrician in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, primarily to care for the children of officers and high-ranking government officials. But with an average of six to eight thousand wounded per month, Glasser, along with all other available physicians, was called on to treat the soldiers. The death and suffering he witnessed were staggering. The soldiers counted their days by the length of their tour—one year, or 365 days—and they knew, down to the day, how much time they had left. Glasser tells their stories—their lives shockingly interrupted by the tragedies of war—with humane eloquence.
This book isn't a YA lovey dovey feel good storyline. This giveaway is for people who want to learn about what it's like to live in the middle of a war. You might have a loved one that once served in the military or known someone who has lost their life… this is for you. It's a tear jerker (so have a box of tissues near you) but it's also a book that makes you take a second look at life. It's a point of view from the wounded. 365 Days is a gut wrenching story about loss in the Vietnam War. Ronald Glasser is a doctor who had many incoming soldiers that needed medical and surgical attention. He sat down with some of them, heard and wrote their stories all of which eventually became the acclaimed book “365 Days”. All that is what the book is about-the war and those who made the fight. Each short story adds to the others making an unforgettable document of that war. These are stories about courage of the warriors, understanding of how much your life can change in one moment, and how the war effects not only the soldiers but the people those around them on the battlefield and at home. It will make you want to hug your family and say "I will always love you". After reading this story, I look at the military differently… I feel like I'm really in their shoes. I'm glad I picked up this book and hope that you will too. Five stars.
5 Stars
*Reviewed by Rachel*
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Wow... this seems interesting. I'll definitely give it a go!