The book summarizes the experience of an orthopedic surgeon when he leaves his civilian practice 10 times to deploy with the Australian Defense Force to war zones, civil wars and humanitarian disasters. It contrasts the comforts of civilian surgery and the difficulties of military surgery. Surgical topics covered are the challenges and difficulties of military surgery in an unfriendly environment and with limited resources, the unique features of battlefield wounds and the treatment of devastating high velocity gunshot wounds and blast injuries. Should there be different treatment for friendly forces, enemy forces and local civilians? Personal impacts are discussed such as accommodation, meals, keeping healthy and travelling to the deployment and back. The book's title, "Sad Joys on Deployment," reflects the paradoxical emotions triggered by the good and the bad, the satisfying and the distressing. Relationships with friendly and unfriendly forces and those who help and those who resist added to the mixed experience. Returning home was good but it was not the same as before and adjustments were needed.
The book is available on all of the usual websites, including:
www.bookdepository.com
www.amazon.xom
www.austinmacauley.com.
Sad Joys on Deployment
June 21, 2020
About the author:
Greg Bruce was born and educated in Adelaide, South Australia. He gained his medical degree in Adelaide University in 1970 and moved to New Zealand immediately after graduation for his intern years where he trained as an orthopedic surgeon followed by two years in London, England. He then returned to Sydney, Australia, to an academic position and then into private practice.
He recruited into the Royal Australian Air Force Specialist Reserve as an orthopedic surgeon in 1988 and this led to the ten overseas deployments that are the subject of this book. He reached the rank of Group Captain (Colonel equivalent) and age retired in 2013.
He received honors and awards during his service, including Membership of the Order of Australia.
