As someone else said, I feel this would have benefitted from further editing… it starts with a visit to the grandfather’s war location in Europe and his son (the author) says that when *his* own son suggested visiting Vietnam for the same reasons, he didn’t want to relive that. Then we go into his childhood, his own military career in Vietnam, back to civilian career, and finish with a repeat of the visit to Europe (not sure why?) and finally a visit to Vietnam which he hadn’t wanted to do but must have changed his mind.

It was interesting to read about combat surgery and what it was like to live through fighting a war abroad, as well as some of the injuries he had to deal with. Also to see about rural life back in the 1940s when he was growing up (and at one point as a child, helping to pour ether over a patient being operated on!).

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review. Apologies for the delay in providing this.

This was a very interesting story. I loved every minute of this book. It was so well wrote and flowed so well. What I loved so much about this book was how the author was brought up. His father was a doctor and started him early by allowing him to watch his surgeries from a very young age. The surgeons explained everything as they went along. This was fascinating and I don't think I would be able to do that. The majority of this book covers the authors service in the medical core during the Vietnam War. It was very interesting that back in the day some procedures had not even been preformed. Wars seem to advance medical procedures as they will try anything to save their patients. It was amazing to read how many times he had to think on his feet. This was very exciting and I definitely recommend reading this book. Especially if you love autobiographies about surgeons during wars or even those who love learning history of the Vietnam and what to find out what it was like being a surgeon during this time. This is definitely a real page turning story that you will find difficult to put down. 

Only the highest of praise goes out to the author and publishers for bringing us this wonderful, shocking and very interesting story. I would definitely read more books by this author and I would like to thank him for his service. 
The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK where found and my blog https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/there-were-no-flowers-by-william-meffert-md-wgm-pulishing-house-5-stars either under my name or ladyreading365

“There Were No Flowers” came to me through Net Galley in return for an honest review. Thanks to NG , the author and publisher for for the opportunity to read the book.

The book is the story of a boy, the son of a country doctor in Iowa who also becomes a doctor and of his time spent at a field hospital in Viet Nam. “ There Were No Flowers” begins with young Meffert’s formative years following his father on his rounds seeing* his devotIon and service to his patients. Watching his father do surgery in the bedroom, barns and fields for his rural, and poor , patients and seeing the way his father was treated by members of the community solidified the boy and man to do medicine. The early pages of the books recount scenes that ifixed in young William the dedication determination and fortitude he would need in medical school and in Viet-Nam.
These heartwarming chapters are in stark contrast to those gentle times. Readers should be warned that the content of what Dr. Maffert experienced serving as a surgeon in evacuation hospitals , often under fire and always under pressure are not easy to read? Indeed, they are graphic and disturbing. Descriptions of the horrible wounds the doctors saw and the extensive surgeries they performed while literally standing in puddles of blood will make anyone question sending their off children off to war. It certainly did for Doctor Waffert. He began to wonder whether is was a good idea to try to save men whose horribly mutilating wounds would forever doom them to lives of dependence.. But his oath as a doctor and courage of those injured men kept him going.
Parenthetically, I recall. a Viet Nam vet I knew, who had lost one arm and part of one leg, and most of the other. His days were filled with pain, he drank a lot and fell often. He would often laugh it off because he did not want anyone’s pity. But everyone who knew him, even a little could see the anger in his eyes.) He learned why his father like so many veterans of WW2 did not open up about their. experiences. They saw things that they knew their families could not comprehend.
The final chapters recount how the author accompanied by his son returned to Viet-Nam , saw again where the field hospital was located, now a four lane highway. He speaks warmly of the Vietnamese he met and they , like he, were filled with sorrow that so many soldiers suffered and died for reasons that overwhelmed humanity.
The author is a medical man and not an author, so the writing os often inelegant, though certainly heartfelt. There are repetitive moments in different chapters. But all the book is very much worth reading,
This is a moving book and very much worth reading. It is not easy reading, though and once again, I warn of the graphic detail that will stay with the reader long after the book is finished.

There Were No Flowers by William Meffert is a book that caught my attention from the start. It is a tale brimming with not only the horrors of war, but the generational connection between father and son, the fight to overcome trauma, and the ability of the human soul to love. This book is an honest and poignant look into a time period we frequently only hear about in a history textbook. Meffert brings to life the entire spectrum of his war experience – the battle wounds and the wounded themselves. I could not help but be mesmerized by his experiences and insights into humanity during a time that tested one’s soul to the edge.

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.