Customer Reviews

Ruff's War: A Navy Nurse on the Frontline in Iraq

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

"Ruff's War" is a great read --- it's a true story of a nurse on the front lines in Iraq. Having been a Navy nurse myself during the VietNam war, I heard many accounts of military nurses during that war. But this is my first read about Iraq. I found it to be truly a terrific book. It was like reading Cheryl's personal diary of her every day encounters and struggles while serving in Iraq. I kept thinking that this was a relatively short time in that country. And I try to imagine what it must be like for the military who are there for a much greater amount of time. Reading about her experiences has given me a look at how much those soldiers must endure daily for perhaps a year or more. It makes me wonder how any human being can survive living in that country under those conditions and fighting for their lives and others at the same time.
Obviously, Cheryl survived to return home, landing in the U.S. under her own ability to walk off that airplane. Reading about the war, makes me appreciate more what these men and women do for our country every day. It helps me know that they deserve much credit and support for their efforts and also makes me very sad to know that there are some who only return home in body bags. I'm very patriotic and proud of our troops. As an ex-Navy nurse, I applaud all they do and am proud to read of Cheryl's "adventures" in Iraq knowing she served our country and did what she needed to do. A terrifying time indeed but she gave us insight into that war and our military's endurance and dedication.
I'm so glad I read this book. Cheryl is from my home town area, grew up in my church in PA----a home town girl "done proud". Thank you for sharing your story of inspiration and struggles. It was an amazing read.

I was not impressed with this book at all. As a hospital corpsman who has served in Iraq I couldn't help but laugh at the complaints of CDR Ruff. We all endured the same situations in Iraq and unfortunately some of us had to be deployed for a lot longer then 122 days. I picked up the book excited to read about someone elses perspective on the war, I was very disappointed to read only about how miserable one person was on her very brief deployment. Iraq is what you make of it, and complaining only makes it worse. Don't get me wrong I have great respect for the patient care but thats where my apprectiation for this book ends.

We are now beginning to see the first person reports of people coming back from serving in Iraq. It's only when you start to get the books that you can begin to make sense out of what's happening. The newspapers and especially the television reports are so brief, so headline oriented that you can't get the real story. And it will be ten or more years before the history books come out to put the whole story of the war into perspective.

Cdr. Ruff's story is one of a Navy nurse operating in close support to the Marines during the invasion of Iraq. She served with the 'Devil Docs' made famous by the embedded reporter Dr. Sanjay Gupta an embedded correspondent from CNN. This unit performed numerous surgeries under trying conditions on Marines, Iraqi prisoners of war, and Iraqi civilians. Cdr. Ruff was with the unit during the most crucial times during the war.

Her story is filled with factual notes, and more important gives the overall feelsings of an American serving in Iraq.

Good Reading.

This is a very personal and heart-felt account of one Navy Nurse's experiences with the fast moving situations during the initial phase of the Iraq incursion. Cheryl's willingness to share her professional and personal story is a welcome addition to the history made daily by Navy Nurse Corps officers and corpsmen who go 'In Harms Way' to assist the Marines and other personnel in need of excellence in patient care.

I have family members who have served in IRAQ. 2 Army and 1 Marine. This book helped me to understand what they went through. It takes a lot of courage to write about an experience like this. I found myself laughing out loud at parts of the story and sobbing through other parts. Well done!

This autobiography puts the horrors of war right in your face. Told from the perspective of one Navy nurse, it stirs emotions and makes me wonder if I would have the coping skills to deal with the conditions and stresses that Cdr Ruff faced. It is very important that individual stories be told and history be documented. The American public needs to be educated on the realities of war and its emotional, psycological and physical impact on the individual war fighter. I am grateful to Cdr Ruff for re-living her horrific experience and telling her story. I am grateful to Cdr Roper for writing the story. I am grateful to the Naval Institute Press for printing the story. Thank you.

Thanks to Cmdr Ruff and Roper for taking the risk to share such personal insights into the war in Iraq! I watched both of them recently during a presentation on CSPAN, and I was further impressed with their candor and passion. The book flows with vivid descriptions and raw emotions --- well worth the time it takes to read it!

Ruff's War ought to be mandatory reading for all nurses, physicians and health care providers in training and beyond.
To view the role of healthcare in war through this author's eyes is gripping.

This book was awesome! As a future Navy nurse myself, I found that I was feeling each moment as she wrote about it. I felt her desire to go home every day, and at the end, I felt her passion for what she did, how proud she was, and how every moment was worth it. It was inspirational, and eye opening. Cdr Roper did an excellent job in relaying Crd Ruff's story. I highly recommend this book.

The parts covering actual medical topics were very good. Our daughter is a navy nurse so I'm am sure we enjoyed it more than any one with out a connection. Well written and had "heart". Alot of complaining but considering the living conditions am sure she could have written many books just about that!