January 31, 1942
For four weeks we have been eating in the open, picnic fashion, while we fought ants and huge blowflies.
For four weeks we have been eating in the open, picnic fashion, while we fought ants and huge blowflies.
STERNBERG GENERAL ARMY HOSPITALMANILA When I heard about Pearl Harbor, I knew that my happy little world had crumbled about me. All of us were
Today was like a ghastly dream! Beds that were empty yesterday were now occupied by mangled and horribly burned patients. In a few short hours,
Today we heard that the Japanese had made a landing in northern Luzon! It can’t be true! Don’t Be DEFEATIST signs were posted throughout the
It was true! The enemy had landed at Lingayen! Nichols Field and Fort Stotsenberg had been bombed again! Those who had the time stayed near
There were ghastly sights in all the wards at the hospital. Young American boys with legs and arms torn off and with bad burns. Our
Nichols and Murphy Field had been bombed again! All hospital personnel had been instructed to sleep fully clothed. During the night I was repeatedly awakened
The Japanese seemed to have the freedom of the skies. They raided the city several times a day, and there never was any opposition from
The Japanese again bombed the city just as our patients were having lunch. Fort Stotsenberg continued to take heavy punishment many times a day. People
Fort Stotsenberg had five air attacks yesterday, and Joyce, the army nurse who worked with me, lost her sweetheart during one of the raids. She
Many local civilian nurses and missionary nurses from India, Japan and China had volunteered their services at the hospital. The entire city worked together, building
The enemy dropped incendiary bombs close to our hospital. A few minutes later, the wounded began arriving but, unfortunately, many of them died en route
It was wonderful to see the high spirits displayed by both American and Filipino soldiers. Young men with an arm or leg gone actually considered
The Filipinos have named this day well. Black Christmas! The blackness of despair and resignation was everywhere. Only the Axis nationals and the Fifth Columnists
A suspected Nazi civilian doctor in my ward was shunned like a mad dog by patients and staff alike. Several times I tore up his
The heavy bombing began overhead just as patients in cumbersome Balkan frames were lifted into the large army trucks, which were to convey them to
The army nurses had left for Corregidor and Bataan, and only a few of the medical officers of the administrative staff were left. The civilian
The evacuation of the hospital was almost completed. There was confusion, tension, anxiety, sadness, and mad rushing about as last-minute instructions were shouted throughout the
The demilitarization of Manila had been completed now that General Francisco, chief of the Philippine Constabulary, had left with his staff. On the front, General
The radio was dead! We continued to hear deafening explosions, immediately followed by clouds of thick black smoke and pillars of dancing orange flames. As
The enemy dropped thousands of leaflets over the city. Uncle Sam was depicted as a Death’s Head in repulsive caricature. Underneath the picture in large
Though I couldn’t reach Catesy by phone, my phone rang continually. Friends and neighbors called to see if we were still in our home or
We had abandoned all wishful thinking and hopes that a miracle at the eleventh hour would occur to prevent the Japs from taking us into
By 5:30 we had breakfast, and fifteen minutes later we were in the lobby of the apartment, surrounded by our bags and bundles. After an
January, the 5th! We could never forget that date, for it would have been our wedding day! Instead of a wedding, the large iron gates
I will long remember my first night in Santo Tomas. Throughout the night, Japanese soldiers flashed lights on us as they barked restrictions and orders
My second night in Room 25, Japanese number, and Room 221, American number, was just as restless and disturbing as the first. Bedbugs and mosquitoes
Again I awakened early, but since I had slept a little, I felt and looked less like a shadowy zombie. My roommates, old and young,
The people who had homes, servants, friends, and business associates on the outside were fortunate indeed! We were able to contact Catalino, and he brought
Each morning I rushed like the Mad Hatter to the hospital kitchen to cook the cereal and coffee for our breakfast. Each morning I expected