From the Battlefield to the Page – Diary of a Deployed Doc

Dr. Darrell Menard’s Diary of a Deployed Doc chronicles his experiences during a seven-month peacekeeping mission in Bosnia in 1998. Amid the challenges of working as a military doctor in a conflict zone, Dr. Menard began keeping a journal to process the emotional weight of his work. "I mainly wrote it for my own mental health while I was there, to give myself a chance to clear my mind in the evenings. But I also wanted my family to later say, ‘This is what Dad went through,’ and be able to read it and say, ‘Oh, I hadn’t realized you had to do that.’"

Although the journal was written during his deployment, Dr. Menard only revisited and compiled his writings about a year and a half ago, with the support of his family. The book became a collaborative family effort: his daughter Rebecca designed the cover and illustrations, his youngest son Matthew edited the manuscript, his eldest son Nathan reviewed and edited sections, and his wife also contributed to the editing process. The result is a deeply personal and meaningful work that offers both a historical account and a testament to the enduring strength of family and service.

This information is adapted from an article originally published by Les Éditions André Paquetteon, Gabrielle Vinette, November 13, 2024.