Physical description

Hardcover, cloth bound, burgundy book with a white dust jacket. The dust jacket shows an image of six people ducking from the force of the wind coming from the helicopter that is landing behind them, there is blue cloudy sky above. Across the sky is printed the title. The book is housed in a burgundy cloth covered slipcase.

Publication type

non-fiction

Summary

This inside story of an Australian Field Hospital during the Vietnam War is told through a compilation of operational facts interspersed with the personal experiences of those who served and the patients who passed through the hospital doors, into their care.Call Sign VAMPIRE provides a window into the frenetic world of a military hospital in a war zone through evocative, sometimes confronting imagery. In this environment time was of the essence and life often hung in the balance.The wounded, "... they were scared, frightened, shocked and they weren't coping. Generally, when the chopper landed, they weren't coping. No. They were in shock, incoherent and it was no good asking them what had happened, or where they'd been, because twenty minutes before they were in contact with the enemy ..." Ron NolanAt the 1st Australian Field Hospital the battle for life and limb was often challenging and intense. Medical services provided by the hospital were of such a high standard that the survival rate, for soldiers arriving at the hospital alive, was 99%.This success rate still stands today as a truly remarkable achievement!The hospital comprised triage, operating theatres, pathology, pharmacy, X-ray, physiotherapy, psychiatry, outpatients, RAP, a six-bed intensive care ward and 50 bed medical and 50 bed surgical ward. It was also supported by a Q-store, an orderly room, messes and accommodation. Units attached to the hospital were the 33rd Dental Unit, 1st Field Medical and Dental Stores, 1st Field Hygiene Company, Chaplains and Australian Red Cross representatives.Our book is a celebration of the dedication, temerity and care of a unique group of Australians, thrown together to get on with the job of treating the injured and wounded. A consequence of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War.Our hope is that the readers of Call Sign VAMPIRE gain an insight into what it meant to go to a war that polarised public opinion, and impacted the physical and mental well being of so many young soldiers and personnel dealing with the consequential casualties and despair. We also hope that you come to understand why as young Australians we are so proud to have been part of a unit that as Roger Nation remembers, "... welded together to form a team of world class standard" and why our camaraderie has continued to this day. - from Trove record.