Rule Number Two

Did any of you watch MASH? I loved that show. During one episode Hawkeye loses someone he knows on the table and is of course overwrought. Henry Blake the CO talks to him and says "There are two rules in war" Rule number one is that young men die. Rule number two is that doctors can't change rule number one."

Yesteray I was in Borders bookstore buying a reference book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (light reading). As I always do I perused the war section to see if there were any books on Iraq that I hadn't read yet. There was. I picked up a book called Rule Number Two Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital. I had intended to read this book after the weekend while my thesis was at my second reader - but I made the mistake of rading the first chapter while waiting for my lunch to cook. I was hooked.

After a 9 hour day of sitting at my desk writing and editing my thesis I went to bed around 10pm. I picked up the book and didn't put it down until I was finished. Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft, a clincial psychologist who is former Navy active duty, writes about her seven months in Iraq helping men and women of the Marine corp deal with trauma. Her story is amazing and heartbreaking all at the same time.

Most of the time I had tears running down my face as I was reading. I've read alot about Iraq but this book painted a picture in a way that no one really has. Maybe because it's from the perspective that I've been working from - I'm not sure. One thing it did was reinforce what I want to do with my life. I can't wait to be done with school and start my masters so I can be at least placed in a practicum where I am dealing with soldiers directly.

If you are at all interested in this subject I want to encourage you to buy this book. The author is donating 10% of royalties earned to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund which looks like fabulous organization.

This book is not an easy read. Let me be more specific. The book is extremely well written but the subject matter is tough. She has seen things that no one should see and had to deal with situations that no one should have to deal with. Both physical and emotional situations. All while leaving her husband and twins at home in Florida.

We have a lot of hero's in this war. Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft is an example of another type of hero that doesn't get mentioned much. I'm glad her story is being told.

Right before she leaves Iraq she makes a list of things that were good and things that were not good. This list is worth the cost of the book alone. I won't reprint it because I don't have permission but also because I want you guys to read it yourselves. You can find it here.