This Is Really War: The Incredible True Story of a Navy Nurse POW in the Occupied Philippines

In January 1940, Dorothy Still was assigned to a military hospital in the Philippines. As war approached, military wives and children were shipped home, and the sailors increased their drills. Days after Pearl Harbor was attacked, the Japanese military assaulted the Philippines, and Dorothy was held captive in a hospital and then transferred to a civilian prison camp. Under the direction of Chief Nurse Laura Cobb, Dorothy and ten other navy nurses maintained rank and reported to a makeshift hospital. In May 1943, a civilian physician asked Cobb if the navy nurses would consider transferring to a new prison camp in the countryside. The twelve nurses feared the unknown, but they could not deny they were needed. On their departure, inmates used the public address system to play the navy fight song, Anchors Aweigh, and the nurses were overwhelmed by the response. In the new prison camp, the twelve anchors turned a stripped infirmary into a functioning hospital, providing nonstop care for starving, diseased, and abused inmates. Over the years, their friendships deepened, and several of the women, including Dorothy, even found love. This Is Really War is an inspiring story about a young nurse who fought for life during a dark time.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 336 pages
\n Publication date: 07 May 2019
\n Publisher: Chicago Review Press
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In the early months of 1940, Dorothy Still, a navy nurse, eagerly anticipated her new assignment at a military hospital in the Philippines. Her first year abroad was an exhilarating adventure, filled with romantic encounters with sailors and lively dance nights. However, as 1941 progressed, the looming threat of war grew increasingly urgent. Military wives and children were sent back to the United States, while the sailors intensified their daily drills. Days after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese military launched a fierce assault on the Philippines.

When Manila fell to Japan in early January 1942, Dorothy found herself captive in a hospital, later transferred to a civilian prison camp. Under the guidance of Chief Nurse Laura Cobb, Dorothy and ten other navy nurses maintained their ranks and reported to a makeshift hospital daily. The conditions in the camp were cramped, with limited space and inadequate resources, leading to disease outbreaks and poor nutrition. Despite the overwhelming challenges, the navy nurses and their army counterparts valiantly worked to care for the camp's inmates.

In May 1943, a civilian physician approached Cobb with a proposition. Would the navy nurses consider transferring to a new prison camp located in the countryside? The twelve nurses, though fearful of the unknown, knew they were needed. As they prepared for their departure, the inmates used the public address system to play the navy's fight song, Anchors Aweigh. The nurses were deeply moved by the overwhelming response, recognizing their crucial role as the anchors of the camp, preventing the ill inmates from drifting.

In the new prison camp, the twelve anchors transformed a stripped-down infirmary into a fully functioning hospital. Despite their own ailments, they tirelessly provided care for starving, diseased, and abused inmates. Over time, their friendships deepened, and several of the women, including Dorothy, even found love.

This Is Really War is an inspiring tale of resilience and bravery during a dark period of history. Dorothy's unwavering commitment to her patients and her fellow nurses serves as a testament to the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity. Her story reminds us of the sacrifices made by those who serve in times of war and the profound impact they can have on the lives of others.

\n Weight: 698g\n
Dimension: 235 x 169 x 27 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781641600767\n \n