On Call in Hell

A Doctor's Iraq War Story

By: Richard Jadick, Thomas Hayden

Narrated by: Lloyd James

Cdr. Richard Jadick's story is one of the most extraordinary to come out of the war in Iraq. At 38, the last place the Navy doctor was expected to be was on the front lines. He was too old to be called up, but not too old to volunteer.

In November 2004, with the military reeling from an acute doctor shortage, Jadick chose to accompany the First Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment (the "1/8") to Iraq. During the Battle of Fallujah, Jadick and his team worked tirelessly and courageously around the clock to save their troops amidst the worst street fighting Americans had faced since Vietnam.

It is estimated that without Jadick at the front, the Marines would have lost an additional 30 men. Of the hundreds of men he treated, only one died after reaching a hospital. This is the inspiring story of his decision to enter into the fray, a fascinating glimpse into wartime triage, and a compelling account of courage under fire.

©2007 Richard Jadick and Thomas Hayden (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc.

Critic reviews

"This remarkable man's story is well worth telling...a memorable experience." (Publishers Weekly)

Outstanding with a few exceptions

What does Lloyd James bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A way of delivering the lines that made me feel as if I was there.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I cried and laughed. There are some parts that really tug at you while also giving you a smile.

Any additional comments?

Overall the book is great. i personally am interested in the field of Military medicine and wish that the story would go more in depth with the specific experiences he talks about. I highly recommend this piece.

Splendid

I served in the Army Medical Corps during the Iraqi war. A special thank you Richard, for taking me into the battle of Falluja. I honor your witness and your love for our for the Marine Corps and especially for your corpsman.

On Call In Hell: A Doctor's Iraq War Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, it is an interesting point of view. Having served in Iraq in 2003 with a Fleet Hospital within the combat zone, his story is very real and acurate and yet he was more involved in the urban warfare than my personal experience.

What did you like best about this story?

The physician's point of view. I have read other similar books but from a nurse's perspective.

Have you listened to any of Lloyd James’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Amazing

Totally worth reading and hearing this amazing book 10/10 coming from a person who’s doesn’t read much.

If you are in the military, or the medical field, please read this book!

A gripping retelling of one of the horrific battles in recent memory told by an often over looked perspective.
The attention to detail and the refusal to alter the description of events made the whole story much more real and filled with emotion.
I also appreciate the author speaking about the Hospital Corpsmen who served with him as often as he did. It is a proud heritage that is too often skipped over.

Great book about a historic event.

Jadik's perspective of such an important event is eye opening and refreshing. The men and women of the hospital Corp are many of the unsung heroes of war tasked with a daunting, difficult job. They are forced to carry the psychological burden of death and war with them for the rest of their lives. This book does a great job of capturing the struggles, but also the amazing commitment and sacrifice. No doubt this book will also provide some closure for families of the fallen and help those carrying the physical and mental scars to process and heal. The narrator did a great job, but I prefer the author's voice.

Navy Doctor and Marine Medical Care in Battle

"On Call in Hell" is a frank, no holds barred, down and dirty, description of the care that one Navy Doctor provided the Marines during the Battle for Fallujah. Commander (Doctor) Jadick realistically describes the organization, and interfaces between the Marines and the Navy and some of the training required for a Navy Hospital Corpsman (HM) to become a revered Marine Corps "Doc". His description of the fighting, casualties, treatment and results is realisltc and does not attempt to cover up any of his, the unit's, the Navy's or the Marine Corps' shortcomings so they can be adequately addressed and corrected. Doctor Jadick's love for medicine and the military comes through the context of the book as does his deep love for the sailors and marines that he serves so closely with, both on the front lines as well as behind the lines. In addition to the military Medicine side of the book, Doctor Jadick also describes how he managed to weave his family life into the fabric of the Navy and Marine Corp with the ultimate test of his marriage being his deployment to Iraq just after his daughter's birth. This book should be required reading for all Military Medical Officers during their transition from civilian life into the military in the Officers Training School as well as the Command and Staff Colleges of the Military because "Care of the Wounded" is an important element of the Battle Plan, and is either given lip-service or skipped because "more important" matters come up. This may be one of the more important books to come out of the Iraq War, as it should be and maybe Doctor Jadick's recommendations presented in the Epilog will be given serious consideration, for there are few elements of the military and the battles it fights than the care of the wounded warriors; and because of their sacrifice, Nothing that we can do and the positive changes that we as citizens force on the Government are too much to repay these brave men and women for their sacrifices.

Neither a comedy nor a war story

While a story of one doctor's time in war it is neither a comedy nor a war story. The author uses his own time in Iraq to draw attention to battlefield medical technology describing at the same time why the number battlefield fatalities has declined and a growing need for medical doctors who are willing to practice their trade just behind the front lines of the conflict. At times I listened with rapt interest as the author described his views on battlefield medicine and how he put them into practice. Another time, I laughed out loud with him as he described his 'diplomatic impasse' (we have all been there before). I smiled with him as he explained in detail how minor comforts would mean so much to men there. Often as he described the courage, valor and dedication of the men he worked to save yet could not, I found tears stinging my eyes in the cold winter wind over two years after their passing. While the author describes the carnage and brutality of his situation in this war, he neither glorifies nor dwells upon the violence its own right. While explaining the motivation of himself and others he cleverly avoids the polarizing political issues or the war. In my opinion it is a well-told story easily understandable to everyone and well worth listening to. As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed the book from beginning to end.

A note to the author: When at a stadium, standing at attention, silently singing the star spangled banner as the music plays, I close my eyes to keep the water off my cheeks.

any junior military physician needs to read !

if you're a boot doctor, you should be reading this story. end of story. if you're a greenside doc, you should give this to your boot doctor to read.

Amazing!

This is what me of the best books I’ve read on Navy medicine. He covers aspects of both blue side and green side plus day to day experiences in the medical corps.