This book offers very powerful insight to the struggle of mental health specialists in the field of combat. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in psychology and combat medicine. Even if you're not, this book is certainly worth it.

Rule Number Two: Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital
I am a volunteer EMT. My dad had PTSD. I read Heidi's book and listened to her interview on National Public Radio. We have many returning vets in my town. Heidi's book and her work with the US Navy Combat Stress Control Program are in the highest tradition of the Navy and Marine Corps to leave no one behind. Great book! Great woman! We EMTs need more training in how to support our returning vets. We need Psychological First Aid training in addition to trauma and medical training. Heidi and folks like her are on the cutting edge of emergency medicine. Semper Fi

A very good read for military and political leaders looking for a balanced perspective on how casualties affect Soldiers and Marines.

I am in a book club called WOBL (WOMEN OF BRYANT LAKE)We were lucky enough to have our host get a conference call with the author, Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft. After reading her book I was so moved by her experiences over in Iraq, it's a book that I feel every US citizen should read. She gives the reader a chance to understand first hand what the soldiers are experiencing and how she helps them work through their losses and fears. It is such a heart felt book from a mother/lieutenant commander who has to leave her two young children to help these men and women through life and death situations on the combat field. I can not say enough about this book, I highly recommend it!

As a fellow military psychologist, I thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Kraft's account of her deployment experiences. This is not a manual for the treatment of combat stress, and is not intended to be such. It lends humanity to those of us in a helping profession working in an environment that can create some superhuman expectations. I read it easily in an afternoon and recommend that anyone who wants some insight into military psychology do the same.

I want to thank Dr. Kraft for her book "Rule Number Two". My son joined the Marines last fall and graduated on December 7TH. Ooh-Rah! He has always wanted to join the Marines. My brother was a Marine and served two tours in Vietnam . I was only about 4 years old when he was there and I still remember my mom crying at the airport. I also remember her setting a place at the holiday tables as a gesture of remembrance for my brother. This place setting she said, 'Was for all of us to remember where our brother is and to remember all the soldiers who are not at their family's holiday table.' Never did I ever think I would set a Marine place setting at my holdiay table, but I did these past holidays. As a mother, I want Dr. Kraft to know that it eases my heart to know that there are people like you dedicated to my son. It makes me feel calmer knowing that he has a place to turn to when he needs the support. Your book provides the support and comfort of what is real! I encourage all who have a family member serving for our country to read Dr. Kraft's book. It will allow you the window into their lives as they serve and help you understand their emotional returns to home'. This book is for all who care about our men and women serving now and for all our veterans.

I want to thank Dr. Kraft for her book "Rule Number Two". My son joined the Marines last fall and graduated on December 7TH. Ooh-Rah! He majored in Psych in college and has always wanted to join the Marines. My brother was a Marine and served two tours in Vietnam . I was only about 4 years old when he was there and I still remember my mom crying at the airport. I also remember her setting a place at the holiday tables as a gesture of remembrance for my brother. This place setting she said, 'Was for all of us to remember where our brother is and to remember all the soldiers who are not at their family's holiday table.' Never did I ever think I would set a Marine place setting at my holdiay table, but I did these past holidays. As a mother, I want Dr. Kraft to know that it eases my heart to know that there are people like you dedicated to my son. It makes me feel calmer knowing that he has a place to turn to when he needs the support. Your book provides the support and comfort of what is real! I encourage all who have a family member serving for our country to read Dr. Kraft's book. It will allow you the window into their lives as they serve and help you understand their emotional returns to home'. This book is for all who care about our men and women serving now and for all our veterans.

If you are a mother, you will probably enjoy this book. If you are a 30-year old combat soldier, as I am, you will probably consider it for the birds. My true belief is that Heidi intended for one product, and ended with another. I feel that she went through her time in Iraq intending to write and publish about her role as a combat therapist, mother and wife but left there having little to work with except her reflection on those three bits.

Bottom line, I found two decent stories that she told and many pages of filler that fails to meet my mark for solid publication material. I wanted to hear from the unique, traumatic, and psychologically-affecting stories from our men and woman in uniform as told to Heidi. Though they are there, most are rather weak except the great humor of a young amputee and the reflection of a mortar attack by an aging Navy gentleman. The rest of the book was too weak to mention. I felt as though it was told as though my own mom was writing from a war zone. (My mom is a hospital executive, former trauma RN and a professor of nurse education). God love Heidi... she appears through her writing to be an exceptional mom, wife and patriot... but the book was just not what I wanted at all.

I was hoping that combat soldiers opened up more to shrinks in the field and that Heidi had captured their stories so that, perhaps, we could all learn from them and wisdom of the care providers. It isn't Heidi's fault that these stories didn't seem to be there. It's just her publisher's fault for going ahead with this book without good content in my mind. For example, I wanted to hear from a patient that may resemble John Crawford, author of the sublimely well written and best-selling "The Last True Story I'll Every Tell." If John were in Heidi's office, she'd have fantastic book that I would award more stars to. But that kind of patient never seemed to be in her care, and we are left listening to stories that, in my mind, were rather plain and two dimensional.

I am an enlisted Cavalry Scout in the US Army, writing from theater in the Middle East. I read her book on teh plain ride over here. ..and get this, when we re-fueled in Germany, I picked up a Reader's Digest magazine off the rack and this book was again featured with praise. I just want you, the reader, to be aware of how I see the work from my perspective.

Dr. Kraft has written an excellent and moving account of her experiences in Iraq. It is also a testament to the struggle of many working mothers, whether service members or not. As a psychologist (also woman and mother) in private practice with a largely military population, I recognized a similar thread in the many horror stories I have heard from active duty and family member clients alike. By writing from her perspective, we are able to gain a unique window into the clinician's world, many of us are not otherwise able to share. It is a part of the Iraq War story that needs to be told. In response to the reviews of some others: this is not a graduate school textbook and has not been presented as such. It would be inappropriate to review it for its ability to instruct on psychotherapy techniques for trauma and there are other excellent publications designed for that purpose. Rather, it is one person's account of what it was like to be on the ground, as a professional, a service member, and as a human. Dr. Kraft's skill and expertise as a therapist are revealed repeatedly throughout the pages. She is someone I am honored to call a colleague in the field of mental health, and I thank her and her family for their service and sacrifice.

I read RULE NUMBER TWO last weekend and could not put it down. I can't thank Dr. Kraft enough for sharing her very personal story. At first I was expecting stories of her patients from a clinician's point of view. Her account of what she experienced gave me so much more. I am a clinical social worker working in a community college counseling center, where we are seeing many OEF/OIF veterans as they return to our school and our community. The more we can know first hand about their experiences the more we can help and support them. This book has been so helpful to that purpose. After reading the book, I went back to amazon.com and ordered several more copies to share with my colleagues, friends and family.

I really enjoyed Dr. Kraft's account of her time in Iraq. Her book revealed a unique perspective of the psychological issues for not only the soldiers and other military personnel, but also of the medical personnel stoically treating those patients. This easy read left me crying one minute and laughing the next. It was very interesting reading the behind-the-scenes accounts of the same stories that were in the news. I have so much respect for the individuals that give up their families and personal lives to serve our country. Rule Number Two gives us a glimpse at the emotional challenges of the war.

Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft did a fantastic job relaying stories from the front. I do feel, however, that she was a bit melodramatic regarding her own experiences (the convoy out of Camp "Cupcake"), which (for me) competed with, and detracted from, the inherent impact of hearing our troops' stories. All and all, worth the read - JT (82nd Airborne, 1990-1993).

This is the first book I've had a chance to read since being out of grad school and reading textbooks all the time. I loved this book and not only because I'm obsessed with M*A*S*H. It was an easy read that'll make you laugh and cry and truely appreciate what the men and women of the armed forces are doing for our country. While it would have been nice to see some more technical psycholgy (as a mental health worker myself), I think it worked better for the reader that doesn't have a psych background.

What a fantastic read! This book provides endless content for discussion. Dr. Kraft's story is truly amazing and beautifully written. I couldn't put it down!
In a written memoir for her children, to help them understand "...why I had to go", Dr. Kraft reveals to all of us her fascinating experience of providing care to the most courageous young men and women in our country. Highly recommended for any book club!

Excellent Read and I did so in one day! Every American should read this to get a taste of what goes on in a war zone for our sailors, soldiers, airmen and marines. Military medical personnel are quite affected too and she does a great job of highlighting this. Bravo for sharing your experience. I am a retired Navy nurse corps officer and mom of twins so identified with much. Thank you.

Dear Heidi, having just finished your book I must say it was impressive, emotional, enlightening, heart wrenching, thought provoking......there just are not sufficient adjectives to describe it. Everything I come up with falls substantially short of the proper way to describe your book. The emotions I felt must surely be minimal compared to what your comrades and fellow deployers feel when they read it.

I cannot stress enough just how deeply your book touched me. I have always known that our sailors, marines and soldiers have faced many demons while in harms away, but your book certainly gave me a better understanding of just how various those demons are. Nothing I (or most people) for that matter face in our daily existence can even remotely compare to what our military personnel face when they are away from loved ones, enduring untold dangers. I know that my husband has many secrets of his deployments locked away. I used to feel slighted by his unwillingness to share those secrets. It took me a while to just accept that some subjects were off-limits and bury my hurt. While subconsciously I always knew if was because I couldn't relate to what had happened, it was still difficult as a spouse not to be hurt.

Reading your book has given me a better sense of understanding. Of course he can't share those moments with me.....it would be impossible for me to truly appreciate or comprehend what he endured during those months at sea.

You are truly a gifted physician with a special place in life to help others. Thank you for sharing such personal details so that you might help others - you certainly helped me understand better.

This was a very interesting and touching book and amusing in parts too. Of course, Heidi did fulfill her military commitment and deployment of 5 months. No whining on her part either even with a few times of immeninent danger. But it was not easy on Heidi emotionally to leave her toddler twins with her Marine pilot husband and her parents who had traveled to Florida from their home in California to take care of her twins. So much love and devotion of her parents to assist so their daughter could be deployed. The parents were very proud and supportive of her through out the deployment.

Dr. Kraft is now a retired Lieutenant Commander clinical psychologist in the United States Navy. She was called to Iraq several months after her twins were born, making her tour of duty an extra hard one. I can only try to visualize just how hard this tour was with her husband being a naval pilot and leaving those twins, while she was away serving our military.

As most of us think we know how bad things are in Iraq, or were when Dr. Kraft was on duty, we have a hard time understanding how much our military officers and non-commissioned men and women are and were in need of her profession. She never knew when she would be called out of the shabby barracks to assist someone; never knew when shells would rain down on her and her fellow soldiers; never knew what she would see in the way of physical wounds such as missing limbs, eye, or other body parts; had no way of knowing if the patient would pull through or be a vegetable; but she always knew that her help as a psychologist and sometimes as a medical doctor or nurse would come into such dramatic use.

During her tour of duty she contacted her family as much as possible but the use of any communications gear was in such short demand and it was shared by so many. Dr. Kraft had many a sleepless night, some due to noise from exploding shells or mortars, but many due to the hot conditions she had to endure in Iraq with temperatures regularly getting to 132º, making sleep extremely difficult. Sometimes she and some of her fellow staff would be called to a different location where problems existed. They had to talk soldiers down to earth when they wanted to commit suicide for a reason they felt they couldn't live with. Their own fellow medical professionals helped each other when things got too tough.

When a soldier is lost on the battlefield or in the hospital setting, it is so physically and mentally difficult for the entire staff to stay concentrated on their objectivity. Dr. Kraft draws you into the scene wherever it may be and you will find yourself shaking your head as you wonder how the staff could survive through such terrible actions. Yes, you will probably shed a few tears reading through some of the very sentimental times both from the battlefield and from personal lives as they endured the unknown.

When you finish Rule Number Two you will have been through an experience you will never forget and you will have even more respect for our men and women in our armed forces and what they endure. Thank you Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft for your excellent story and the way you told it to all of us.

I learned of this book in a riveting interview on NPR and secured the book. The book is also riveting, horrifying, and uplifting, often at the same time. I can only begin to imagine what it must have been like for the author to have lived through the horrendous combat and post-combat experienes she encountered. I think each war produces a series of books that define the period, the horrors and the bravery. I am confident that as the catalogue of such books is developed in years to come to address this war, this incredible book will be included and will always be highly regarded.

Rule number three: Rule number one and two compel us to provide our armed forces with the compassionate combat stress care of doctors like Lieutenant Commander Heidi Squier Kraft.

Rule number one and two refer to a particular episode of M*A*S*H. Use the search inside feature for more about this. I met Alan Alda once. Having followed his career, I noticed he gives medical commencements. His advice after a near death surgical crisis is, "Treat me like a human being".

That is exactly what Dr Kraft describes in her memoir as a Navy flight psychologist, marine pilot's wife, submariners daughter, colleague friend and confidant. She is one of the Marines "Alpha" female care givers at the Combat Hospital in Anbar Province, Iraq.

I recall reading the news story of Marine Corporal Dunham's heroism and susequent Medal of Honor. It is comforting to know he was treated with such dignity and compassion by Dr. Kraft and her team at Alpha Surgical.

This book is a compelling read and allays some of my fears about how our military addresses combat stress. You will meet members of our military requiring the assistance of Heidi Kraft. Many looking for someone to talk with, at Alpha Surgical Hospital, so they can rejoin their units. Some would not make it.

I was also pleased to see 10% of Dr. Kraft's royalties are donated to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. As if she hasn't already given enough.

Ma'am, thank you!

I have to say, I am not the typical "war" reader, nor am I an advocate of the Iraq war, and if reading for leisure tend to stay in the realm of authors such as Stephen King, Maeve Binchy, or Mitch Albom - just to name a few. This book absolutely caught me by surprise and is not at all what I expected. It is thought provoking and excellent material for book clubs, mother's groups or small group discussions.

Rule Number Two, as I perceived it, was about a mother's journey - not only to a place where she had to "disconnect" from being a mom in order to treat her patients, but in order to survive her own mental anguish. There were many stories of patient's that Dr. Kraft would interact with, most of whom she learned a deep and meaningful lesson from. But in nearly every chapter, there was this lingering reminder of her role as a mother, wife, daughter, and sister, amidst the surreal horror, yet simplicity, of war. It appears to be a journey of remembering, learning and healing.

Nearly every person that I have recommended this book to has loved it, whether they are in favor of or an opponent of the war has been irrelevant. We've all agreed that we walk away feeling very proud and patriotic--not necessarily of war, but of those who serve our country. It's a great read that you won't be able to put down.

I could not put this book down. The author gives us a view into the war we don't see readily from home. We are privileged to experience the heart and soul of a soldier -- in particular the loyalty each has for one another. I was awestruck by the amazing strength of a mother away from her children to serve her country. It made me proud to be an American. It made me proud to be a mom.

Finally, I appreciated the insight into the human mind-- how we as humans process emotionally difficult and heavy situations-- and that with some work and effort, we can ultimately get through them.

I was disappointed that the author, who is a psychologist, did not go more into detail regarding psychological aspects, patient symptoms, and her mode of treatment, of her experience. I appreciate that she relates her personal experiences as they were important in her life.

This is a must read. It is the most moving book I have ever read. One moment I was laughing. The next moment I was in tears. More importantly the book is an inspiration - as Dr. Kraft shows, from several different perspectives, how anyone can positively affect the lives many others. This masterpiece is also a monument to our military. Lastly, this book is well written and anyone who thinks to the contrary has made no attempt to perceive the complexity and the depth of this book's multiple messages.

Dr. Kraft's Rule Number Two is a well written account of her experiences as an active duty Navy psychologist deployed with the Marine Corps in Iraq. Dr. Kraft pulls no punches as she describes, in vivid detail, how she manages her own experiences of working in a combat hospital while simultaneously providing services to her patients.

I would strongly recommend this book to trauma therapists who are interested in better understanding their patient's experiences in a combat zone, and others who are interested in gaining the unique and genuine perspective of a deployed psychologist.

Dr. Kraft offers a truly rare insight into the hearts and minds of those who serve on the battlefield. There are many books out there that talk about tactics and treatment; however, none of them capture what it truly means to treat the combat veteran. For those who have worked in a combat zone, you know that all those treatment manuals get thrown right out the door; there is no standard procedure or book to read that will tell you what to do. Kraft offers her own personal account on what she did what she experienced, and how it affected her. You won't find anyone more honest, or sincere about her work treating Marines in a combat zone. I highly recommend this book, as it is meant for everyone, Mental Health Professionals, combat veterans, Physicians, Nurses, the like. You won't find a better account about what happens in Iraq, or what these Marines go through until you read this book. I know I had a hard time putting it down. Thanks Dr. Kraft for giving me a perspective that no one else could, for your honesty, sincerity, and dedication to our Marines. Very Respectfully.

If you are a trauma therapist hoping for more insight regarding how to treat combat trauma, DON'T buy this book. If you are looking for someone's personal account of her experiences in the war zone go ahead and enjoy. The writing is amateurish but readable.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and within the first chapter found that I had a hard time putting it down. Kraft gives a real-life perspective of the experiences and impressions of a modern day war. She provides a realistic view on the emotions and every day details that haven't been captured by the media. And after reading this, I feel closer to the war in Iraq and the individuals who give their time, hearts and minds to fighting.

Dr. Kraft has written a fresh, emotionally bruising record of what it is to be a care giver not just to those who obviously need it, but to those whose experiences lash them from the inside. This is the book for anyone who ever wanted a concise version of the direct and indirect mental cost of combat.

The wrenching depictions of comrades in arms openly weeping for those who used to sit and laugh beside them, of leaders expressing love and care for those for whom they are responsible, of the small things and large which provide relief and anchors for those caught up in chaos all leave a reader wondering how it is anyone can truly survive combat unscathed. Intervention after intervention trod upon each's heels; from the schizophrenic Marine who argues with his combat knife, to the weathered veteran who wants hypnosis so he can stop his two-pack a day smoking habit, to talking down a Marine with a rifle muzzle to her head, weeping as she apologizes for what she is about to do, even when the interventionalists themselves find themselves on the receiving end of an ad hoc group session held by a commander of a neighboring unit who happens to be a practicing psychiatrist, even addressing the stress of being one of the new "untouchables" - graves registration Marines. "We did the best we could" is the strong underlying theme throughout this memoir. This is a powerful rendering of what we ask others to do, and suffer, in our name.