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A Night With Saddam
01/03/10 - 09:19 PM
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2010 is well underway, but we can’t help reflecting on the decade that brought huge changes for the nation. The capture of Saddam Hussein is remembered by many during this milestone New Year’s celebration, particularly by one Panama City physician.

Dr. Mark Green will forever remember his service in the Army because of the memories he has. One memory in particular will stand out for the rest of his life.

Dr. Mark Green will always remember the year 2003 and the War in Iraq. But his experience is one for the books, literally. Because Dr. Green met and examined Saddam Hussein:  “…at about midnight they’d put him to bed and the admiral came out and said ‘hey doc, would you go sit with him?’ don’t let this guy die, basically, stay with him. They wanted a doctor with him 24/7 so that got to be my job. And on the first night of his capture I was there with him for 5 or 6 hours just chatting with him nonchalantly.”

Dr. Green says that the conversation began when Hussein mentioned that he aspired to become a doctor when he was a child:  “…which, of course, the image of Saddam Hussein taking the Hippocratic Oath sort of shocked me!”

Green says he was surprised by Hussein’s charm and charisma:  “I can remember telling myself in the interview…’don’t become enamored of this guy, Mark. He would kill your wife in your presence to extract even a fake confession. He was just very ruthless.”

To Dr. Green, the experience is surreal. As a West Point graduate, he’s honored to have stared history in the face “…If you look at it in history, it would be similar to if we had captured Hitler …but those things never happened. So this is like in history extremely rare and here I was in the room with the guy.”

As incredible as the experience was, Dr. Green says he owes a lot to fellow comrades:  “It’s really kind of like a gift, because I get to take this, tell this story, and at the same time tell the story about some great soldiers and the medics who were, especially with me, Aviation Special Operation Medics were just unbelievable.”

Dr. Green will hold 2 book signings, one Friday, January 8th at the Bay Medical Center cafeteria and one Saturday, January 9th at Ty’s in Pier Park. Both events will be at 11 a.m.

To access Dr. Green’s website, click on the link below:
www.anightwithsaddam.com