Captain Ray Wiss, M.D. discusses his candid, powerful, and human book FOB Doc: A Doctor on the Front Lines in Afghanistan (Douglas & McIntyre, 2009), with Joseph Planta; Wiss did two tours in Afghanistan, at the front line caring for injured Canadians and Afghans, even Taliban.

FOB Doc: A Doctor on the Front Lines in Afghanistan by Captain Ray Wiss, M.D.. (Douglas & McIntyre 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: FOB Doc

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

The war in Afghanistan is brought home in a candid new book, FOB Doc: A Doctor on the Front Lines in Afghanistan. It’s a compelling diary kept by Captain Ray Wiss, M.D., who rejoined the Canadian Forces in the summer of 2007 to support the mission in Afghanistan. Beginning in November 2007, for the next three months, he spent nearly his entire tour in combat, treating the severe injuries of Canadians and Afghans. We read of his trying to cope with the ‘terror and boredom’ of front-line soldier life. There are also over a hundred photographs in the book, from his time in combat, as well as the men and women on all sides of this war. All royalties from the publication of this book will be donated to the Military Families Fund, which was founded by General Rick Hillier, the former Chief of Defence Staff, who writes the foreword to this book. Published by Douglas & McIntyre, FOB Doc is a tremendous book, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hilarious, but always riveting, human and real. It’s a necessary view on to this conflict that is sometimes hard to understand, but one that’s on the minds of a lot of Canadians. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Dr. Ray Wiss; Good morning, Captain Wiss.

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