Witness to War: An American Doctor in El Salvador offers a personal account of Dr. Charles Clements’ year-long mission providing medical care behind rebel lines during El Salvador’s brutal civil war from 1981-1982. Clements, a former decorated U.S. Air Force pilot disillusioned by his Vietnam experiences, transformed into a Quaker doctor committed to non-violence and the principle of “bearing witness”—observing a situation firsthand and speaking truth about power.
The book chronicles his harrowing struggle, at times one of only two fully trained physicians, for approximately 10,000 people in a guerrilla-controlled zone, confronting “scenes of almost unbelievable horror” and an “anguished view of the low value on life”. With virtually no supplies, Clements improvised, performing amputations with a Swiss Army knife and suturing with dental floss, all while battling dysentery, malaria, and hunger himself. His narrative is extraordinarily restrained yet both disturbing and gripping.
Witness to War serves as a testimony from behind the lines, vividly portraying a conflict of constant aerial bombardments by U.S.-supplied aircraft. Clements’ commitment to medical neutrality, treating any patient regardless of their affiliation, is a central theme, challenging readers to confront uncomfortable truths about U.S. foreign policy and the immense human cost of conflict. This new edition, published decades later, underscores the enduring relevance of imperialism and militarism, urging new generations to reflect on their potential impact on the Global South.