Combat Soldier: Survival is Rare

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician and Toxicologist

"Battle of the Bulge" Courtesy: southeasthobbies.com.au

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I was an infantry battalion scout, point man and forward observer. The life expectancy for any of these jobs is usually hours, if not minutes. For all three, the combat infantryman is out in front. That's where soldiers get killed.

Because of the strong probability of getting killed or captured, we scouts were ordered not to keep a diary or we would be courts martialed. What would they do with us- we were already in the infantry which suffered 70 percent of the casualties and PTSD

My lieutenant and sergeant seemed to resent the fact that I was a smartass college graduate, although I surely didn't tell anyone but it was in my Army records available to anybody above my rank- private.

Being an infantry private is bad enough, but to have those who command you resent you- it is too dangerous. An old Army adage is "don't act smarter than your immediate superior." In my case, I couldn't help it. Some of the sergeants in my battalion were illiterate- bad situation. Any former college boy was in deep doodoo (not the Army term).

I had hoped to keep a diary. I knew this would be interesting if I were lucky enough to survive, but my Looey and Sarge were very adept to see my survival didn't happen. When I got home after 25 months, 6 hours and 15 minutes in the Army, I was still jumpy as a point man. I couldn't tolerate being in or by car or truck traffic. Truck backfires, big fire crackers and gunfire still had me jumpy and nightmares were with me for years, and even now as I recount events of 60 years ago.

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When my three sons got to be about fourteen, they asked their mother who had gone through aerial bombing in England, "does Dad ever talk about his war experiences?" Well, I had, but as my wife and I had gone through similar experiences neither of us talked much about it.

She did suggest that I write it down. Because I had no written reference this was difficult and I had to rely on "flashbacks" which are like going through Hell all over again. It took me 10 years and I finally got fifty chapters written. I was surprised at how much ground I had covered. My book, "General Patton's Dogface Soldier- From a Foxhole", was the result and when my battle veteran patients heard about it, they bought nearly 3,000 copies of the book. Their comments have been very gratifying:
"Should be given to everyone going to battle. It will save their lives."
"You tell it like it is!"
"I can see myself on your pages."
"Godamighty this stuff still scares the hell out of me, but it's good."
"I can only read one chapter at a time."
I did have some real shocks: "Doctor, this is so real it brings back battle memories I've been trying to erase!"
"Doc, I tried to read this, but it's too damned real."
I have said many times that for an Infantryman, war is battle in the stables of Hell. This book is real blood & guts battle. It tells it like it is. I'm getting lots of orders for "General Patton's Dogface Soldier".

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You can email your questions to the doctor: newsroom@salem-news.com

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"If you are a World War II history fan, you don't want to miss it."Dr. Phillip Leveque Will this book be sold in bookstores or is it only sold on the internet?Just asking so I can begin to make plans on getting this book.

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