Marcia L. Gates was an Army nurse and prisoner of war during WWII. As an “Angel of Bataan,” she spent three years in a Japanese internment camp in the Philippines. This is her story, told through her letters and the newspaper clippings, photos and letters collected by her mother. The book was awarded a biography medal by the Military Writers Society of America in 2012 and an Honorable Mention by … by the Hollywood Book Festival in 2013. It was also featured in the TV documentary, Our Wisconsin: Military History of America’s Dairyland on WKOW-TV in Madison.
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This is the story of Marcia L. Gates, one of the nurses who was, as a member of the United States Army Nurse Corps, stationed in the Philippines at the outset of the Pacific War and served during the Battle of the Philippines. This audiobook, written by her niece, follows the story of her mother as she tried to get information about Marcia as war progressed and how Marcia and her family lived their lives after the war.
Marcia Gates: Angel of Bataan is a compelling audiobook to listen to. I couldn’t help but empathize with those who had family and friends stationed in the Philippines during World War II who couldn’t get information on the status of their loved ones; and admire prisoners of war for their perseverance and bravery.
Adrianne Price did a good job narrating this book, I just wish she took the time to learn how to properly pronounce the places mentioned in the book (“Bataan” and “Corregidor”).
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.
During WWII, nearly 70 US Army nurses were stationed in Manilla during the war. When Japan overtook the Philippines, the nurses were held as POWs. Families were desperately seeking information on the status of their loved ones through the War Department, the Red Cross, and anyone else who might have some information. Unlike today’s world of instantaneous communication, correspondence during that time took weeks and months. Families were on pins and needles to find any scrap of information. It was especially interesting and moving to hear the letters from the family of Marcia Gates, her friends, her fellow nurses, and Marcia herself. The official correspondence from the War Department, the Red Cross, and other organizations made it clear that they were frequently as much in the dark as the families at home regarding what was really happening during the war. While you really empathize with Marcia’s family and friends during those three long years of her internment – frequently not knowing if she was alive or dead. You really come away with a true appreciation of human perseverance when you learn about the conditions of the POW camps and what Marcia did and ate to stay alive. Plus, Marcia’s dedication to service was inspiring. This is a very compelling read.
The narrator, Adrianne Price, did a great job.
War-Is-Hell, war-experiences, WW2, Pacific-theater-of-operations, nursing, prisoners-of-war, biography, nonfiction
Excellent personalization and fill-in-the-blanks of a situation I have read about in the past. The excerpts from letters between Lt Gates and her family plus those from other families who were suffering from fear related to their loved ones being part of the Corregidor and Bataan terrors made it so much more real than the excellence of the History Channel. The life changes from small town to professional life to Army life to privation and facing her own demise while caring for others is daunting, but her mother did an outstanding job of keeping records and letters which were transformed into a moving book by Ms Bowersock.
Adrianne Price gave a skillful performance as narrator.
I won this audiobook in a giveaway!
Disclaimer: I am a retired RN, live near Milwaukee, and I geek history.