Caring for Victor

Book excerpt: 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.