Pure Grit: How American World War II Nurses Survived Battle and Prison Camp in the Pacific

by Mary Cronk Farrell, Diane Carlson Evans (Editor)

“Farrell chronicles the harrowing story of U.S. Army and Navy nurses based in the Philippines during WWII . . . a memorable portrayal.” —Booklist (starred review)   In the early 1940s, young women enlisted for peacetime duty as U.S. Army nurses. But when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 blasted the United States into World War II, 101 American Army and Navy nurses serving in the Philippines were suddenly treating wounded and dying soldiers while bombs exploded all around them. The women served in jerry-rigged jungle hospitals on the Bataan Peninsula and in underground tunnels on Corregidor Island. Later, when most of them were captured by the Japanese as prisoners of war, they suffered disease and near-starvation for three years.  Pure Grit is a story of sisterhood and suffering, of tragedy and betrayal, of death and life. The women cared for one another, maintained discipline, and honored their vocation to nurse anyone in need—all 101 coming home alive. The book is illustrated with archival photographs and includes an index, glossary, and timeline.  “Farrell doesn’t spare her young readers any grim details . . . She includes the challenges these women faced and the joy they felt on returning home. As awful as history can be, now might be the right time to introduce the next generation to this important period.” —The Washington Post  “Young readers who enjoyed Tanya Lee Stone’s Almost 13 Women Who Dared to Dream will also appreciate this story of courageous women whose story was nearly forgotten.” —School Library Journal

Genres: Nonfiction, History, War, World War II, Middle Grade, Historical, Biography

164 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Mary Cronk Farrell's acclaimed books have received honors including Booklist Editor’s Choice, Washington State Book Award Finalist, Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, Banks Street College Best Books, NY Public Library Best Books for Teens, Amelia Bloomer Project List and earned numerous starred reviews.

A former TV journalist, Mary writes compelling history books about courageous unknown women who faced extraordinary danger to help shape American history. Her engaging and powerful writing appeals to adults, as well as teens.

Mary has appeared on TV and radio across the nation and her multi-media presentations and workshops are popular with women’s and civic groups, and at conferences, museums, schools and libraries.

Profile photo/Jenny Lange

Reviews

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know about the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, "a date that will live in infamy." But how many know that only 9 hours later, the Japanese launched an attack on American bases in the Philippines? The fact is that most of us don't really know as much about the Pacific front as we do the European front.

Likewise, most of us don't know that when American forces were forced to surrender and the troops who had not been killed were taken prisoner, among the POWs were approximately 100 military nurses, both Army and Naval.

Mary Cronk Farrell's Pure Grit is the story of how those nurses not only survived, but also how they continued to care for the sick and wounded with dwindling medical supplies and food. When the women had first come to the Philippines, their workload in the base hospitals was light, only 4 hours a day because of the heat and humidity, and their spare time was filled with dancing, golfing, tennis, swimming and even a little romance for some. Living a resort-like life, no one was expecting the war to come their way. As one nurse, Peggy Nash, said: "I had no idea there was going to be a war...That's how naive I was." (pg 16)

When US troops retreated to Bataan, 25 nurses were sent there to care for the wounded, but they first had to set up a makeshift hospital. In no time, the wards were overflowing. From January 1941 until their liberation in 1945, these brave nurses continued to care for the sick and wounded under continuously deteriorating conditions, practicing what Farrell calls "Make-Do Medicine" (Chapter 6)

Over the course of those three years, the nurses lost weight because of the starvation-level rations they were given. some developed beriberi, others dengue fever and/or bouts of malaria and tuberculosis. Even after they returned to the US, many suffered from untreated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, untreated because Farrell writes, understanding of PTSD was two wars and generations away.

And sadly, it wasn't until most of the nurses had passed away that any real recognition of they had experienced and the nearly miraculous care they gave to their patients under such terrible conditions was acknowledged.

Pure Grit is a well researched and very readable history of these courageous women. Some of their individual stories are sandwiched into the narrative of what happened in the Philippines, giving it all a very intimate feeling. That feeling is enhanced by all the private photos, newspaper clippings, diaries, and other primary source documents Farrell included to round out the lives of those admirable nurses who served so bravely.

Besides a history of the survival of the nurses held POW by the Japanese, there is also a useful glossary, a list of all the nurses serving when the Japanese invaded, a select timeline pertaining mostly to the events affecting the Philippines, extensive Endnotes, a nice bibliography, and websites where the curious can find more information.

War books are not always easy to read, but Pure Grit is an exception to the rule and a wonderful addition to any Women's History library. And it will be available just in time for Women's History Month which is in March.

Full Disclosure: I have a soft spot in my heart for women who became nurses during WWII - which is exactly what my mom did.

This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was an E-ARC received from NetGalley

Pure Grit: How American World War II Nurses Survived Battle and Prison Camp in the Pacific will be released February 25, 2014.

This review was originally posted on The Children's War

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's no shortage of middle grade books about World War II, but they overwhelmingly about the American homefront of the European theater. The Pacific? Not so much. And there's precious little, at any Lexile, about the nurses who survived being captured by the Japanese largely through the refusal to do anything but. Their story is riveting in the way that stories about extreme adversity always is, and I can easily see the target age group being every bit as fascinated and inspired as I was.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved books about Women in WWII. Ever since I read We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped on Bataan by the Japanese in 2004, I have had a special interest in the nurses who served in the Philippines. I was thrilled last year to find A Pledge of Silence - a fictionalized version - and I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Pure Grit - a non-fiction Young Adult version. I want to thank Mary Cronk Farrell and her publisher for providing me with an ARC.

Mary Cronk Farrell has done a wonderful job in making the nurses' story accessible to a younger audience and those who prefer a lighter non-fiction read. The story is well-paced and well-written without too many characters to keep track of but enough to get a well-rounded view. She hits the highs of pre-war Manila, the lows of the jungle hospitals and the Malinta tunnel, the hopes of escaping by submarine or seaplane, and the desperation of the POW camps. She also touches on the PTSD which was not recognized in the nurses when they came home and how it resurfaced later in some of their lives.

Pure Grit has many pictures that I have not seen before - notably the Navy ballroom and Jungle Hospital #1. The photo of the nurses' names written on the bed sheet after the US surrender to the Japanese moves me every time I see it.

The nurses were an amazing group of women who persevered in the worst conditions. They are truly inspiring and their story should not be forgotten!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most Americans know little about the Pacific Theater of WWII aside from three bombings: the one that began the US involvement and the two that ended the war. Little is also generally known about the role of U.S. women, outside of their working on the home front in munitions factories. Reading Pure Grit, which contains a plethora of archival photographs, has the potential of remedying this lack of information perfectly for both young people and adults.

The title is well-chosen; these women never seemed to flinch or loose their professionalism through the grueling difficulties created by the Japanese invasion and occupation of the Philippines. As the excellent narrative unfolded to me and the situation of these nurses went from bad to worse, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering when these women were going to crack. A few were able to escape before things got really bad but most of them soldiered on through tremendous difficulties, not crumbling until their twilight years when some of them understandably fell victim to post traumatic stress.

Don't miss this one!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unforgettable story of courage and dedication - and long overdue in the telling! Wrenching stories and perhaps the most important is how the nurses were treated when they came home. So important for young people to hear and remember. A great addition to WWII books and great for CCSS activities. My only quibble is that it was a bit hard to keep track of the many individuals in the book.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The required disclosure: I received an advanced copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads Giveaways.


I fell in love with the women featured in this book.
I fell in love with their strength, determination, and willpower.
I fell in love with their grit.
I fell in love with this book.

Following the experiences of military nurses stationed, during peacetime, in the Philippines, the book kicks off just after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Nurses find themselves thrown into a combat situation as Japanese troops begin bombing American facilities, quickly followed by soldiers on foot.

The strength showed by these women is exemplary and it’s sad that it took this long for their story to be told in the way they deserve. Facing air raids, malaria, dysentery, and everything the jungle has to offer, these army and navy nurses continued to treat combat wounds of the causalities that poured in by the hundreds.

With little to no help coming from the American military (a fact that will still leave you speechless), eventually the nurses are part of an American surrender and moved to a POW camp. Conditions and health continue to deteriorate into severe disease and starvation. Despite all of it – little to no food, barely having the strength to stand, disease ravishing their own bodies and those around them – these amazing women continued to treat the sick and dying around them. No matter the cost.

This book should be required reading , particularly for young girls today who believe the biggest problems they’ll face in life are bad haircuts and not being married on the timetable they’ve crafted in their heads. I can’t say enough good about this astounding group of women and their actions. Author Mary Cronk Farrell has done the world and the women featured a service that was long overdue. She crafts a beautiful yet devastating story that needs to be told and honored.

The temporary nature of safety and the permanence of pain are underlined in this compelling book. A fast read at 133 pages (151 including a complete list of nurses, timeline, index, etc.), I urge everyone to pre-order this book now. Set to be released in March 2014, Pure Grit takes you from dances to POW camps, from dresses to dysentery, from peace to starvation. You’ll be better for reading it.

Pure Grit proves once again...

[Ridgewood Public Library Youth Services]

My rating 5 out of 5 stars:

This was an AMAZING non-fiction book. You can't help but get sucked in by the amazing survival stories of these army and navy nurses. I read it in less than a day, taking a break only to eat lunch. I couldn't put it down!
-Brenna (RPL)

[Jaymie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an eye opener. It was interesting yet frustrating to read about the ideas people had toward the nurses in civilian life. It was difficult to believe that recognition and help with medical problems were so slow in coming if they came at all. Wow it was a riveting story.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant, inspiring true story of courage, devotion to duty, and incredible perseverance.

[Mary Zurn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women serve as Army/Navy nurses around the globe on active duty. They are finally getting recognition at last. The pure grit of these POW nurses was inspirational. When events much larger than they could control took over their lives, they chose to summon pure grit moment by moment. Amid the suffering and violence of combat and despite personal hardship in prison camps, they continued to simply do their best to keep themselves going and to alleviate the pain of others.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and heartbreaking.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just an excellent middle-grade NF story about the first combat/POW nurses in the beginning of WWII when the Japanese attacked the Philippines. It's graphic and heartbreaking. You'll be angry for them, angry with them, sad for them, sad with them. These women did not get the recognition - or more importantly - the HELP they needed when they returned home. Unlike their male counterparts, they were less likely to apply for VA benefits, and the few who did were often denied or given significantly less. Filled with personal narratives and photographs, these women will stay with me a while.

[LPR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing, well illustrated, exciting as well as being informative. The book was so fascinating because, as a high school student, information like this has been filed as interesting but irrelevant to the tests I had to pass to get my diploma. Now I get to read whatever I want and find out about interesting things that happened that aren't necessarily important in the scale of the whole of 20th century history. Hallelujah. Great book. A great story and a high caliber of information. There were characters and the book was about both people and the story and the situation. I loved that it was a little substory that has often been ignored and I am proud to be a person who knows about the nurses who were POWs under the Japanese in the Philippines. My favorite part was when they were liberated and the nurses, --emaciated, sick, hungry, weak, --immediately restarted their nursing duties under the doctors who had come with the liberators. Medicine had advanced without them, the doctors asking for penicillin and the former POW nurses saying "Peni-what?". The nurses waking up as Ms Nesbit, American POW and 12 hours later being First Lieutenant Nesbit of the US Army. I just enjoyed it. Great book. I love the occasional non fiction book with lots of photos, and this was just the fix I needed.
Intriguing. and Empowering.

[Doug Dams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a history of the Army and Navy nurses that were in the Phillipines when WWII broke out. The nurses went from learning how to handle wartime casualties, to retreating to field hospitals, and then being captured and held in POW camps. The history shows how the nurses changed and how the military viewed them. Before the war, nurses held no rank, then were given officer's rank. But it also shows how women POWs were told to be quiet about their imprisonment and denied compensation after the war. The nurses experienced POW problems of starvation, boredom, fear for their safety, and wondering when they would be rescued. The book is filled with pictures and information about some of the nurses. The author had to work with little documentation as much of it was destroyed during the war and the Japanese punished prisoners who kept diaries. And of course many of these nurses have died living little behind. The book is illustrated with photos and reveals much about the nurses lives in camp but it doesn't seem complete and leaves the reader wanting more. Perhaps it will inspire people to provide information about the nurses they knew. The book was an easy read and short. I'd recommend it. One of the best parts was the introduction written by a nurse who served in Vietnam.

[Annie Oosterwyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and easy to read nonfiction book that should be available to any student (middle, high) learning about WW2 and unsung heroes.
Living on the east coast, my educational experience focused on Europe and the holocaust during WW2. The only thing I knew about in the Pacific was Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima.
Last week President Obama gave medals (and also some posthumous awards)to several surviving WW2 veterans/heroes who were discriminated against because of their skin color. The final chapter of Pure Grit is devoted to the rehabilitation of the nurses from tropical diseases and starvation after their internment by the Japanese. Although recommended for medals of valor and special awards, very few were decorated. This may be an area where school children can attempt to make a difference in their world and advocate for recognition of those nurses who put themselves at risk for others.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I often tend to think of books about military history as appealing mainly to male readers, but Pure Grit: How American World War II nurses survived battle and prison camp in the Pacific by Mary Cronk Farrell is a book that will have women hooked too. Full of photos and first hand-accounts, it tells the often harrowing story of the American nurses who were stationed in the Philippines during World War II.

In the years before the war, being an Army nurse in the Philippines meant wearing ballgowns to dinner and lazing by pools, but that all changed when the Japanese army bombed and invaded the country, eventually capturing and holding 69 nurses as prisoners of war. The author does a great job of showing the spirit of these nurses – the first American women to be in combat – even during horrific conditions.

Give this book to fans of Code Name Verity, Unbroken by Hillenbrand, or patrons who are interested in unique military or medical stories.

[Carolyn Di Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway from Goodreads. Okay, now that, that is out of the way, here's what I thought.
I gave this to my 13 year old son to read for a home schooling assignment. If you have boys, you will know how hard it is to get them to read, much less something educational and about women, no less! His review would be glowing! He read this in 3 days and really enjoyed it. So much so, that he commented on it to a buddy of his.
I am assigning a book report on this book, because since he liked it so much, I thought I'd better strike while the iron is hot!
Now my older daughters are also expressing interest in it as well. Very good book on a topic not much written about!

[Sharon Marie Himsl]

Excellent. Most have heard of the Bataan Death March when American soldiers were captured by the Japanese during WWII in the Philippines, and marched (many to their death) to prison camps. Cronk tells another side of the story involving the brave American nurses left behind, who hid out during the siege, under terrible conditions, caring for thousands of wounded soldiers and civilians. Eventually becoming prisoners themselves, they fought hard against starvation and disease, all the while tending with pure dedication the care of their patients. Well researched throughout, this is a gem of a book for those interested in women's history and their role as nurses during WWII. Lots of photos and quotes also make this an enjoyable read.

[Laurie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a riveting account of true heroism from the Army and Navy nurses captured by the Japanese as WWII POWs, with a major theme being that we all have it in us to be strong in the face of adversity. Pictures and other archival research bring the history to life and allow us to see what it was like for these brave women and the soldiers (and civilians) who were in their care while they were interned. I had never heard about this particular piece of history before, and I was fascinating by the telling of it. Written for middle-grade readers, this is a book that can easily be enjoyed by teens and adults as well. Highly recommended!

[Penny Peck · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this enthralling recounting of a relatively unknown part of WWII history, the Army and Navy nurses who were in the Philippines and were captured as POWs get to tell their stories. Both interviews from their later years, and contemporary letters, diaries, and newspaper stories combine to describe their ordeal. There is also a wealth of b&w photos, maps, source notes, index, glossary, and list of sources to add to the book's complexity. This is a fascinating look at WWII history and women's history. Pair with the film SO PROUDLY WE HAIL starring Claudette Colbert and Veronica Lake, that tells the first part of the story on Bataan and Corregidor.

[NYC Reads 365 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Nursing was one of the few professions that was “acceptable” for young women during the first half of the 20th century. But the 101 women who worked as nurses for the US Army during peacetime soon found war interrupted their work and their lives. While the Japanese bombed the Philippine Islands, these women worked under harsh conditions and saved lives, even when they became prisoners themselves. This is an inspiring story of solidarity and heroism among everyday women who rose to the challenges of wartime. "

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an excellent and engaging history of the brave nurses, who were POWs, in the Philippines during WW II. Admittedly, I have less knowledge about the activities in the Asian theatre, as opposed to the European theatre, during World War II. The stories of individual nurses in the military nursing corps were fascinating, as well as the photographs, letters, etc., in the book. I knew very little about the events in the Philippines during the war. I have great admiration for the dedication and selflessness of these amazing women. I would like to learn more about these nursing heroines.

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads advance copy. According to the cover it was written for young readers. Each chapter is short and easy to understand. The author does not sugar coat the descriptions of what these nurses went through as POWs. However their stories are told in a tactful way. Also the hardships they faced after the war are addressed. This text does honor to these women and should be an informative and compelling read for teenage school children.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little known story of Army and Navy nurses who were caught up in the Japanese capture of American bases in the Phillipines during World War II. Woefully unprepared for combat nursing, the women endured harrowing conditions as POWs and were often the only care for hundreds of soldiers throughout their years in captivity. I especially appreciated the look at their lives in the aftermath. Excellent.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really excellent nonfictional account of American army and navy nurses' ordeal in the Philippines in WW2. Detailed without being prurient, making it suitable for upper middle graders, and thoughtful on the shabby treatment these women received after the war. My only quibble is that the women all seem a little too angelic throughout - maybe that's me being cynical but I found that a little hard to believe.

[Dianna Winget · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seldom read nonfiction having to do with war. But Pure Grit in an impressive, extremely well researched account of the incredible pressures brought to bear on military nurses during World War II. It's a little known, but important part of history, and the author does an excellent job transporting the reader and allowing them to experience the trauma and hardship of these nurses.

[Tara Mickela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embarrassed I did not know the horrifying lengths and depths of terror, starvation and suffering by so many during so much of the war in the Philippines. Told here in gruesome detail while still eliciting great tenderness (nature of nurses!) and highlighting the lives of a handful of nurses whose stories go far, far beyond heroic. Would love to make this required reading in 8th grade!!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me a lot of Unbroken, the first book that really got me thinking about the Pacific side of WWII. What POW's went through, and the lasting PTSD effects were barely acknowledged, especially in the case of women. It also makes me thankful my grandfather was "fortunate" to get shipped home with malaria before the Philippine islands were taken by Japan.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, heartbreaking, and little known nonfiction book about POW nurses in World War II. I don't think there's enough on the Pacific side of the war, and so to have a book about the war in the Pacific, and from the point of view of women, is laudable. I was wowed by their temerity and yes, pure grit.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely worth reading, an easy, quick read. I actually learned quite a lot about WWII in the Pacific theater in this book...valuable history, unsung heroes, a part of the war that maybe didn't get as much press as others did.