


Army evacuates to the jungles of Bataan where Margie tends to the wounded, sick, and dying soldiers in open-air field hospitals. Racing to stay ahead of a powerful and better equipped enemy, the U.S. General MacArthur is upbeat when he announces that everything is splendid.ĭecember 8, 1941, the Japanese bomb the Philippines, turning everything in their path to piles of rubble. Though rumors of war circulate, she feels safe, trusting that the island is fortified, the airbases are ample, and the Filipino troops are well trained. She falls in love with the beauty of the island and the carefree lifestyle of bridge games, tennis dates, pool parties, and dancing under twinkle-light stars with handsome, young doctors. Her assignment is to Sternberg Hospital in Manila, Philippines-the Pearl of the Orient. In January 1941, Margie Bauer is called to active duty in the Army Nurse Corps of the United States Army Reserves. When American planes appear in the sky, she excitedly waves and calls, “We’re here! We’re here!” The liberation forces, however, bring with them a threat more dangerous than the Japanese guards, ensuring she will never truly be free of this evil place and all that has happened.2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Finalist – General Fiction For three years, she doubts her survival in the harsh environment, where she faces escalating danger, starvation and loss. Ultimately captured, she is interned at Santo Tomas, a Japanese prison camp in Manila. With the Nips at her heels, she withdraws to an underground tunnel-hospital on the heavily fortified island of Corregidor.

Army evacuates all personnel to the jungles of Bataan, where Margie tends to wounded, sick, and dying soldiers in open-air field hospitals. Racing to stay ahead of the enemy, the U.S. Japanese bombers roar into the Philippines, turning everything in their paths to smoldering piles of rubble. Though rumors of war circulate, she feels safe–the island is fortified, the airbases are ample, and the Filipino troops are training intensively.ĭecember 8, 1941, her dream world shatters. She falls in love with the beauty of the island and a carefree social whirl of bridge games, pool parties, and dancing under twinkle-light stars with handsome young doctors. She delights in her assignment to Manila–the Pearl of the Orient. January of 1941, Margie Bauer is called to active duty in the Army Nurse Corps of the United States Army Reserves. Follow Margie whose life changes forever when she is captured and held prisoner of war by enemy forces. A World War II novel based on the American military nurses serving in the Philippines.
