FOB Doc: A Doctor On the Front Lines in Afghanistan - A War Diary

by Ray Wiss

Military doctors serving in Afghanistan usually spend their entire tour in the relatively safe confines of the main base. FOB Doc is the story of one Canadian doctor who spent nearly his entire tour in combat. Captain Ray Wiss was stationed at Forward Operating Bases — FOBs — in Khandahar province, the birthplace of the Taliban and the most intense zone combat in Afghanistan. He shares the 'terror and boredom' of the front-line soldier's life in this candid personal diary. One day, he might be participating in combat operations, treating severe and bloody injuries and coping with the deaths of fellow soldiers, both Afghans and NATO allies; another day, he might be writing about the challenges of going to the latrine in sub-zero weather. FOB Doc is heartbreaking and hilarious, often on the same page.

Genres: Nonfiction, War, Canada, Military Fiction, Memoir

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2009

Reviews

[Justin Sim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the book to be an afterthought. A mishmash of activities and thoughts, conveyed by someone with little storytelling skill i found it to be a broad overview of a subject thoroughly written on. Another soldier trying to make a book out of an experience dozens of others have already captured.

[FellowBibliophile KvK · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has only a fraction of the medical content of Dr. Marc Dauphin's Combat Doctor and LTC. Chris Linford's Warrior Rising , and Wiss is collegial first and physician second in that he says it is "unfair" to hold Afghan doctors to the standard of Role 3, which some would call "the bigotry of lowered expectations."

Most of this book consists of arguments for the Afghan War, these arguments overwhelmingly being invalidated by the events of July 2021. For example, Wiss constantly argues that "education eliminates terrorism"; in reality, Mahmoud Khali, Hamas' frontman at Columbia University, has a Masters' Degree, just as Vladimir Illich Sanchez/Carlos the Jackal, George Habbash, Wadi Haddad and Mohammed Atta all had studied at universities.

In a most inadvertent manner, Wiss reinforces what Professor Mark Mazower noted in Inside Hitler's Greece . Professor Mazower noted that Greek civilians tended to not support ELAS Andartes when there was a German garrison nearby. Likewise, Wiss reports that, in his sector, the Andartes/Taliban relied mostly on IEDs since the locals did not support them with an ISAF garrison nearby.

On a related note, Wiss--as does Jean-Marc Tanguy independently in Les Scorpions de Spin Boldak --reports that, when ISAF troops uncovered weapons in villes, they did not massacre the villagers, in contrast to anti-Partisan forces in the East. Yet, July 2021 still happened, which entirely discredits Douglas Porch and Philip W. Blood's hypothesis that reprisals "radicalises" locals into becoming terrorists, since, despite ISAF's strict no reprisals policy, Afghan civilians still allowed the Taliban Andartes to take over without a fight in July 2021.

All in all, this is a less-than-informative and less-than inspiring read.

[Ceallaigh Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so well written, I shed tears. It is written back when social media hadn't quite taken off yet. The author is from my home town. His stories didn't really tell me anything I hadn't heard my husband speak of or of my own experience of a deployment, however he did make me reminisce of 14 years ago when my husband deployed as an infantier. I recommend reading this book to get a better understanding of why Canada went, what a soldier does through and his/her families. Thank you Captain Ray Wise M.D. for putting things into perspective for those who are not in the reality of the Canadian Forces!

[Jo ✨☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book - difficult in some parts - can`t believe he went back for another tour a few months after he came back home.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Author, Dr.(Capt.) Ray Wiss, decided to apply his experience as a doctor and an Emergency Medical Specialist to a tour with the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan. Capt. Wiss rotated through various Forward Operating Bases (FOB) during his tour; providing a well-deserved break for the base doctors at each location. He does an excellent job of describing his tour, from his experience on combat patrols, treating both allies and enemies, dealing with the loss of life, and coping with the "terror and boredom" that is the life of soldiers during war. I bought this book so I could gain an understanding of what our troops were experiencing in Afghanistan. Militarty personnel will likely be able to relate, while the book is an easy read for anyone who wants to better understand what exposure to war is like.

[Tyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very well writtne book, It shows Canadaians what the governments sends our troops into. This book is written by a soldier, in a soldiers point of view. Dr. Weiss did and excellent job of telling the story of our troops in Alfganastan.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter your opinion on the Afghanistan war, the front lines account by Captain Wiss is interesting and insightful - all the more for anyone with a military or medical background. Great read - lots to ponder!

[Kristie (fabk) · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic read for anyone in the health field or in the military.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

it is a well thought out book with chapters and topics as well as a bit of diary format to it. I like that ray wiss actually turned his diary and notes into a story and didn't just publish it as is.