Page 4 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Spring 2015
P. 4
on’t confuse a book review with a book report! We asked Dr Farr why he reviews books, and he
D“A book review is a real form of writing real writ was kind enough to tell us:
ers use to write real things about real books that
1
really matter to them.” Dwight Garner, a book critic So why do I review books? My interest in Special
for The New York Times, says, “A few books I know Forces history really started when I was a child. My
on sight I want to review . . . After that, . . . [I] poke father served with guerrilla warriors Merrill and Wing-
through them, looking for signs of life. It’s a great ate in Burma in World War II and the USAF credits
week when you can find a new voice.” 2 him with inventing the C-47 Gunship. Later, my older
brother served with UNPIK (the United Nations Parti-
The JSOM is lucky to have the enthusiasm and san Infantry Korea) during the Korean War.
talent of COL (Ret) Warner “Rocky” D. Farr, MD,
MPH, to provide reviews of books that inform, in What really clenched it was my first tour in Special
spire, and intrigue our readers. Dr Farr is currently Forces (1968) as an A-Team medic. My team in 7th
an associate clinical professor of anatomic and Special Forces Group had several senior NCOs that
clinical pathology and associate clinical profes served in World War II. When we would go to the
sor of internal medicine. “Rocky” is an aerospace field and sit around the fire at night, stories of Of-
medicine specialist with more than 30 years as a fice of Strategic Series (OSS) deeds and daring were
healthcare leader. His proven strengths include plentiful. During the late 1960s, I met veterans of
multicultural environments with extensive experi the OSS, the 1st Special Service Force, UNPIK, and
ence leading organizations in international/multi numerous paratroopers of Normandy, still on active
national collaborative partnering. He is board duty. I also met Bull Simon, Aaron Bank, Dick Mead-
certified in clinical and anatomic pathology and ows, and other legends.
aerospace medicine and has trained in forensic
and aerospace pathology and as a federal associ After serving in Viet Nam with MACV-SOG, where I
ate medical examiner, diving medical officer, pilot/ worked for Billy Waugh, another true legend, I went
military freefall parachutist, and an MT(ASCP) certi to Detachment “A” (a.k.a. the 39th Special Forces
fied laboratory technician. Detachment) in Cold War Berlin and there I met an
entire group of serving veterans with entirely op-
However, we all know Rocky for his 40plus years of posite World War II experiences—on the other side.
service as a Special Forces (“Green Beret”) medic We had the above-mentioned mix of American
(18D) and physician with extensive experience in WWII veterans plus Wehrmacht veterans, Waffen
Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Far East. SS, submariners, Hitler Youth, Warsaw Ghetto vet-
He was the Special Operations Command Surgeon erans, Hungarian revolution veterans, and a Holo-
of USASOC, USASFC, USACAPOC; USSOCOM; caust survivor over them all as our commander.
and, lastly, USSOCCENT: 1999–2013 at both Ft
Bragg and MacDill AFB. A member of the DoD As I transitioned to an officer in the 1980s and on-
Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care, he ward, I was fortunate enough to meet a true OSS
is an historian, published author, editor of the SOF Jedburgh, MG(Ret) Singlaub, and to participate in
Medical Handbook (2008), and prior executive edi and read more recent SOF history up to and includ-
tor of the Journal of Special Operations Medicine ing the GWOT before retiring in 2013.
(2006–2009). A lifetime member of the Special Op
erations Medical Association, Special Forces Asso So, I review books because I like to read and I
ciation, and Association of Military Surgeons of the like reading about the men, many of whom I was
United States (AMSUS), he has published numerous fortunate enough to meet, whose shoulders we
books and periodicals. stand on. For a “back to the future” moment look at
ii
