Doctor to the Resistance: The Heroic True Story of an American Surgeon and His Family in Occupied Paris [Hardcover]

Hal Vaughan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2004

Maine-born Dr. Sumner “Jack” Jackson joined the British Army as a volunteer physician during World War I. After the Battle of the Somme, he married a beautiful French Red Cross nurse. When the war was over, Jackson joined the staff of the American Hospital in Paris, where he quickly became a favorite physician of such Lost Generation figures as Hemingway and Fitzgerald.

During World War II, Jackson, his wife, and their teenage son joined the French Resistance. They hid and treated wounded Allied flyers and Resistance fighters, used the hospital as a cover for Resistance activities, photographed the German submarine base at Saint-Nazaire, and helped smuggle plans for the V-1 rocket to England. Just before the Americans liberated Paris, however, the family was betrayed to the Gestapo and deported to German concentration camps. The day before the war ended, tragedy struck.

Doctor to the Resistance is based on recently declassified records of the French Resistance, the National Archives, family letters and diaries, and the author’s interviews with Dr. Jackson’s son. Hal Vaughan recounts the Jacksons’ remarkable true story for the first time. It will captivate history buffs, World War II aficionados, and anyone interested in the Paris of that fascinating era.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...meticulously researched and vividly written account of genuine selfless heroism...an extraordinarily moving story." -- Ernest May, author of STRANGE VICTORY: HITLER'S CONQUEST OF FRANCE

"...powerful, moving story, full of pathos, drama and humanity,...leaves the reader awestruck..." -- Thomas Childers, author of IN THE SHADOWS OF WAR and WINGS OF MORNING

"A wonderful story, meticulously researched and lovingly told." -- Donald Petie Kladstrup, co-authors of WINE AND WAR: THE FRENCH, THE NAZIS, AND THE BATTLE FOR FRANCE'S GREATEST TREASURE

From the Publisher

Partly based on recently declassified records of the French resistance

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Potomac Books Inc.; 1 edition (January 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574887734
• ISBN-13: 978-1574887730
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,198,590 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hal W. Vaughan (born 1928) is an American author based in Paris, France. He has held several posts as a U.S. Foreign Service officer before becoming a journalist on assignments in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

He has served in the US Military in both World War II and Korea, and was involved in a number of covert intelligence activities as a US Foreign Service Officer at Karachi and Geneva during the Cold War. Vaughan has intimate knowledge of clandestine, international operations.

As a journalist, Vaughan worked for the New York Daily News and the International Press Service (IPS). He covered Mehmet Ali Agha's attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II for ABC-News in Rome, and later worked for ABC News Radio in New York.

During his tenure with the United States Information Service (USIS), Vaughan developed documentary films in Pakistan. At the U.S. Embassy in Karachi and at the U.S. Consulate General in Dacca, East Pakistan, he covered events for the Voice of America (VOA). Later, he temporarily carried out duties in Saigon during the Vietnam War. As a U.S. Foreign Service Officer in Geneva, Vaughan served as Public Affairs Officer to Vice President Hubert Humphrey (during the Kennedy Round of Tariff Negotiations). He also held diplomatic posts under Ambassadors W. Michael Blumenthal and W. Averill Harriman.

In Cairo, Vaughan was a consultant to Prince Mohammed al-Faisal al-Saud. This stint resulted in a screenplay titled Bedouin that was optioned by Orion Films.

Vaughan is a disabled (non-combatant) World War II veteran. Near the end of the Korean War, Vaughan, a National Guard Battalion Sergeant-Major (S-2) dealing with tactical intelligence, was mobilized at Fort Drum, Watertown, NY. His unit never made it overseas.

In 2004, his first book, Doctor to the Resistance: The Heroic True Story of an American Surgeon and His Family in Occupied Paris, was published by Brassey's Inc. Vaughan followed up with FDR's 12 Apostles: The Spies Who Paved the Way for the Invasion of North Africa, which was brought out in 2006 by The Lyons Press.

Vaughan is a member of DACOR: Diplomatic and Consular Officers Retired, Wash., DC; Association of Former Intelligence Officers; the Paris Cercle de l'Union Interalliée; and the National Press Club, Wash., DC.

He is fluent in French, has a good command of Italian, and knowledge of German, Urdu, and Arabic.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Is Why They Call It "The Greatest Generation.", October 19, 2004

By 

Neal Bellet (Wayne, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Doctor to the Resistance: The Heroic True Story of an American Surgeon and His Family in Occupied Paris (Hardcover)

This is the true story of three remarkable people who sacrificed everything they had for what they believed in, and to fight against the evil that was Nazi Germany. Because it is written like a novel, the reader will not be able to put the book down. A must read for any serious student of WWII.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful/Terrible Story About a Selfless Man, October 8, 2011

By 

patsana "patsana" (Monterey, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Doctor to the Resistance: The Heroic True Story of an American Surgeon and His Family in Occupied Paris (Hardcover)

This is truly a remarkable book about a true hero. In today's world heroism has become a cheap and common commodity. This true hero put his life on the line every day for four years under a regime where the rule of law did not exist.
This is a must read, especially for our youth and young adults who typically know little about history.