“Bullets to Bandages” by Mark Terris, M.D. chronicles daily life for the Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldiers during the 1970s in an endearing memoir centered on Terris and four of his brothers in arms.
In Israel, military service is mandatory for most citizens. Some people enter a fast-track option that begins in high school, but most will simply report for duty at age 18. The term was three years until recently. Distinguished performance allows soldiers to join specialized units, including combat medics and paratroopers.
“Bullets to Bandages” begins in October of 1977 with Terris phoning a family friend–a friend’s mother who offered to help him dodge the draft. No one picks up and Terris is resigned to reporting for duty as legally required. What follows is a journey of education and self-growth. After accidentally volunteering for paratrooper duty, a bout with pneumonia knocks Terris into another unit: combat medics. As the M.D. after his name might imply, Terris finds his calling. Alongside some fellow soldiers, Terris masters the rigorous combat medic training and eventually becomes an instructor and commander.
The IDF repeatedly spouts a few aphorisms, chief among them is “There are no friends in the Israel army.” Obviously, that could not be further from the truth. Therein lies the heart and soul of Terris’ memoir. His relationships with his fellow officers, friends, and commanding officers shines even during the more hectic and disheartening moments. For every illness and injury, overbearing commander, and mishap in medical training, the bonds formed between Terris and his friends serve as a source of solace and strength. Such as when a kitchen accident melts plastic dishes and Terris and company are forced to bury the evidence, or a chocolate milk food fight that ends in laughter and brotherly horseplay.
Terris writes simply but with an affectionate tone. Even when describing an uptight instructor improperly placing an IV in his own arm, he writes with respect and humor. By the end of the narrative, it feels like you’ve been through the experiences and joined the group. The simplest way to describe “Bullets to Bandages” is to compare it to the iconic show “M.A.S.H.” but set in 1970s Israel. Despite not being posted in an active warzone, Terris’ memoir captures the same dark humor and highlights humanity in the face of an inhumane war.
Wonderfully well-written and polished, “Bullets to Bandages” offers readers an inside look into one man’s coming of age with humor, violence, and gore nestled within a captivating soldier’s journal.
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