Coppola: A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq

The fierce, true-life account of United States Air Force pediatric surgeon Lt. Col. Dr. Chris Coppola, who served two tours of duty inside a military trauma hospital in Balad. Novelistic in scope and vision, this memoir extends beyond objective reportage to give genuine voice to U.S. surgeons, Iraqi translators, and everyday civilians whose core beliefs are tested in the turmoil of war. In the course of the story, Dr. Coppola treats dozens of burned and diseased children, sometimes against the orders of his commanders. His extraordinary courage and commitment to children flourishes even as he witnesses some of the most unspeakable horrors of war.

Additional information can be found on the book's official website www.coppolathebook.com

Praise for Coppola

"...a detailed and touching account of one of the lesser known occupations of war."
—ForeWord

"Powerful, thought-provoking and unforgettable, A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq stands alone among accounts of the Iraq war. Unlike other authors, Chris Coppola has chosen to focus on the two issues that transcend all conflict: our mortality and our sense of morality. Writing with poignant honesty, he illuminates the well-worn generalizations of war with trenchant details, recounting stories about American and Iraqi individuals who must bear, as well as care for, the often tragic consequences of combat. You will never again look at the Iraq war—or any war for that matter—in quite the same way."
—Dr. Pauline Chen, author, New York Times columnist

"War opens many wounds--physical, psychological, societal, and spiritual. A talented soldier can minimize some of those wounds, and a talented surgeon can repair the physical ones, but a real healer tries to address them all. In a world with no shortage of wars, Dr. Coppola's memoir provides us with an intimate look at what it takes to be soldier, a surgeon, and a healer."
—Charles London, author of One Day the Soldiers Came: Voices of Children in War

"Chris Coppola’s deeply moving memoir plunges us into the shattering reality of war, the war of military doctors, nurses and medics confronting the shot-up, bombed and burned bodies funneling into the Air Force combat hospital in Balad, Iraq. The wounded are soldiers and civilians, men and women, friendly Iraqis and enemy insurgents and—most appallingly—children."
—Terry Sanders, Academy Award-winning filmmaker and director of Fighting For Life

"An unflinching memoir about the casualties of war, with powerful insights about both Americans and Iraqis, all artfully penned with an apolitical flair. Put Coppola: A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq on your must-read list today!"
—Catherine Mann, USA Today best-selling author

"Dr. Chris Coppola’s remarkable account of his experience as a combat surgeon in Iraq throws a whole new light on medicine under fire . . . a great read and tribute to the American spirit of generosity."
—Dr. Khassan Baiev, author of The Oath: A Surgeon Under Fire