'We Band of Angels' by Elizabeth M. Norman is a compelling account of American nurses who became prisoners of war during WWII in the Philippines. The book delves into the harrowing experiences of these women as they endured war, overwork, starvation, and imprisonment under Japanese captors. It highlights their resilience, sacrifices, and the challenges they faced in a time when the role of women in the military was not fully recognized. The narrative explores the physical and emotional trials these nurses went through, showcasing their heroism and determination in the face of adversity.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include depictions of war, starvation, imprisonment, illness, and trauma, which may be distressing for some readers.
From The Publisher:
In the fall of 1941, the Philippines was a gardenia-scented paradise for the American Army and Navy nurses stationed there. War was a distant rumor, life a routine of easy shifts and dinners under the stars. On December 8 all that changed, as Japanese bombs began raining down on American bases in Luzon, and this paradise became a fiery hell. Caught in the raging battle, the nurses set up field hospitals in the jungles of Bataan and the tunnels of Corregidor, where they tended to the most devastating injuries of war, and suffered the terrors of shells and shrapnel.
But the worst was yet to come. After Bataan and Corregidor fell, the nurses were herded into internment camps where they would endure three years of fear, brutality, and starvation. Once liberated, they returned to an America that at first celebrated them, but later refused to honor their leaders with the medals they clearly deserved. Here, in letters, diaries, and riveting firsthand accounts, is the story of what really happened during those dark days, woven together in a deeply affecting saga of women in war.
Praise for "We Band of Angels"
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"Gripping . . . a war story in which the main characters never kill one of the enemy, or even shoot at him, but are nevertheless heroes . . . Americans today should thank God we had such women."-Stephen E. Ambrose
"Remarkable and uplifting."-"USA Today"
" Elizabeth M. Norman] brings a quiet, scholarly voice to this narrative. . . . In just a little over six months these women had turned from plucky young girls on a mild adventure to authentic heroes. . . . Every page of this history is fascinating."-Carolyn See, "The Washington Post"
"Riveting . . . poignant and powerful."-"The Dallas Morning News"
Winner of the Lavinia Dock Award for historical scholarship, the American Academy of Nursing National Media Award, and the Agnes Dillon Randolph Award.
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About the Author:
Elizabeth M. Norman, R.N., Ph.D., is a professor at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She is the author of "Women at War: The Story of Fifty Military Nurses Who Served in Vietnam, " and co-author with Michael Norman of "Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath, "which made "The New York Times" list of top ten nonfiction books in 2009 and was named a 2010 Dayton Literary Peace Prize finalist. Her awards include an official commendation for Military Nursing Research from the U.S. Department of the Army.
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