Cassie DePeckel
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Honestly, she can't make out all the words.
Paper is scarce at Los Banos, and the note's written on the torn-out page of an old book.
But she can read the two most important words at the bottom.
Love, Thomas.
It's mid-September, 1943.
The note is from Thomas Terrell, a civilian pilot who was working in Manila at the beginning of the war.
He and Dorothy bonded over both hailing from Southern California and have become close.
He's tall and handsome and sure has a way with words.
Dorothy reads the note over again, feeling almost giddy.
A pounding on the door interrupts her.
Dorothy tucks the note into her pocket and opens the door.
She finds Shigeru, the medical officer of the local Japanese garrison, standing outside.
He's supporting another Japanese man, who's moaning in pain, clutching his abdomen.
Dorothy helps the man to a chair, then yells out, "'Doctor!
Come quickly!
It's an emergency!'
She's yelling for Dana Nance, a physician who was part of a fresh batch of prisoners who arrived two weeks ago.
The nurses rejoiced when he arrived.
Not only was he a doctor, but he'd smuggled surgical tools into camp.
Nance rushes in.