Caring for Victor: A U.S. Army Nurse and Saddam Hussein by Robert Ellis


Caring for Victor: A U.S. Army Nurse and Saddam Hussein
Title : Caring for Victor: A U.S. Army Nurse and Saddam Hussein
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1933370920
ISBN-10 : 9781933370927
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 188
Publication : First published January 1, 2009

Robert Ellis, a former Army nurse, makes a legitimate claim that he spent more time with the former strong man of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, than any other American. For 8 months in his deployment at Camp Cropper near Baghdad, Robert was responsible for the health and well-being of the Army s high-value detainees depicted on the infamous deck of cards showing Iraq s Most Wanted. In particular, he was charged with keeping the deposed Iraqi dictator, known by his code name Victor, not only alive but well. Caring for Victor presents the story of the author's experience and complicated relationship with Saddam and how that experience developed and was shaped by events in Robert s own life including two sad journeys he made back to St. Louis to deal with family deaths, first his mother and then his brother. Robert also covers his dealings with some of the other high-value detainees, including Chemical Ali, and presents an exclusive look at the everyday life of a soldier during the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

Caring for Victor: A U.S. Army Nurse and Saddam Hussein Reviews

  • Ben Westhoff

    This book is a sleeper. Published by a local press, it's part personal memoir of someone you've never heard of, part biography of Saddam Hussein, and part account of the mundane lives of Iraq war personnel. Yet it's much better than it sounds, particularly the chapters devoted to Hussein's time after being captured by US forces, whittling toothpicks out of twigs, stirring cold instant coffee with his finger, and comforting his nurse caretaker, Robert Ellis, after a family member's death. Much credit goes to former Post-Dispatch journalist Marianna Riley, who has clearly done a lot of homework and stitched together a compelling narrative. It's a quick read; try to get all the way to the end for a stunning revelation about Ellis, who grew up in St. Louis' infamous Pruitt-Igoe housing projects.

  • Roadhouse

    Interesting book, but kinda icky how this guy bonds and develops a relationship with Saddam.