This Is Really War

The Incredible True Story of a Navy Nurse POW in the Occupied Philippines

De: Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi

Narrado por: Susan Ericksen

In January 1940, navy nurse Dorothy Still eagerly anticipated her new assignment at a military hospital in the Philippines. Her first year abroad was an adventure. She dated sailors, attended dances, and watched the sparkling evening lights from her balcony. But as 1941 progressed, signs of war became imminent. Military wives and children were shipped home to the states, and the sailors increased their daily drills. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, Dorothy and the other nurses braced for a direct assault. When the all-clear sounded, they raced across the yard to the hospital and prepared for the wounded to arrive. In that frantic dash, Dorothy transformed from a navy nurse to a war nurse. Along with the other women on the nursing staff, she provided compassionate, tireless, critical care.

When the Philippines fell to Japan in early January 1942, Dorothy was held captive in a hospital and then transferred to a university along with thousands of civilian prisoners. Cramped conditions, disease, and poor nutrition meant the navy nurses and their army counterparts were overwhelmed caring for the camp. They endured disease, starvation, severe overcrowding, and abuse from guards, but also experienced friendship, hope, and some, including Dorothy, even found love.

©2019 Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi (P)2019 Tantor

Really interesting

I enjoyed the story - the only reason I gave it 4 stars is the way it was written , it’s pretty matter of a fact. But the content is so interesting it makes the writing not as important. The reader is OK, not bad, not good, just OK. But again, the story is so interesting, I didn’t care.

Incredible resolve by military nurses held captive by the Japanese

For people who may need a reminder about the brutality of Japanese treatment of American POWs, as well as Philippine citizens during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during the second world war, this book is a good reminder. It is also a reminder that women served in the US military as well, and in some cases were killed, or were POWs. This incredible group of nurses was able to survive their initial hell under Japanese captivity, but then they had to remind people that the conditions that they served were awful. It took many years for these nurses to be recognized and get treatment for the post traumatic stress that they suffered as POWs under the Japanese.

Fascinating book

A very interesting book about a part of World War II history that I knew very little about.. Had me crying throughout. It’s very well written, and also perfectly narrated by Susan Ericksen.

Surprise!

There I was reading away and the story disappeared. So, no review as I have not finished this story! Sign me: Disappointed