Message From Our Chaplain

Message From Our Chaplain

Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460

Veteran-Owned and Serving You Since 1902

At Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460, we know how much it means to serve. As a veteran-owned organization, we are committed to meeting the needs of those in our community. We’ve been open since 1902, and that means we’ve spent over 120 years helping people right here in Solon, IA.


As part of our mission, we are open to the public for meals, special events, and more. To learn more about Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460 and what we’re all about, read this recent letter from our chaplain from December 2024.

A Message From Chaplain Doug Thompson

Our oldest granddaughter, Olivia, called me on my birthday back in January. During our conversation, I asked her how the school play she was in just before the Christmas break went. She told me on the day of their dress rehearsal the sound system went out. The students practiced without the sound system speaking their lines slower and loudly until their teacher could hear each of them from the stage to the furthest seats. The play “Angels of Bataan” was a hit with the audience and the actors were told despite lacking a sound system they all could be heard clearly. Olivia portrayed Edith Webb, and the other 5 leads portrayed Helen Bailey, Sally Bailey, Jean Perkins, Millie Plinders, and Laura Appleby. These six women were among the 66 US Army nurses and 11 US Navy nurses taken prisoner by the Japanese forces when the Philippines fell in 1942. 


Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the duty station in the Philippines was considered a plum duty station offering fairy tale adventures in an exotic tropical paradise. The Japanese attack on the Philippines turned this paradise into a fiery hell on earth. The nurses turned their attention from their regular duties to trauma nursing, as the casualties from the bombing of Clark Field began to flood the medical facility. With the number of wounded mounting, the nurses built two tent hospitals within the Bataan jungle, where they worked around the clock under the direction of Chief Nurse Captain Maude Davison. The 57-year-old Captain Davison had years of experience dating back to the First World War. Captain Davison's second in command was 47-year-old First Lt Josie Nesbit. Under their leadership, the two tent hospitals were established in the Philippine jungle. Each hospital consisted of 18 open-air wards, each containing between 300 and 400 soldiers and sailors. These wards were filled with the wounded, the malnourished, and those stricken with malaria and other diseases.

A black and white painting of a group of women

The 11 Navy nurses were forced to surrender in January when their makeshift hospital in Manila fell to the Japanese. Just before the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942, the Army nurses were moved to the island of Corregidor. By May 6 Corregidor fell and the remaining 66 Army nurses were taken prisoner. The Japanese moved the nurses to an internment camp called Santo Tomas.


It wasn't long before Santo Tomas was filled with over 6,000 prisoners of war. Again, the nurses under Captain Davison built another hospital they called Santa Catalina Hospital. The nurses worked 4-hour shifts in the hospital. The nurses treated patients injured from beatings and sexual assault by their Japanese captors, accidents, diseases, and malnutrition. Despite having little medical supplies and working under conditions far less than sanitary, these women saved many people from the grip of death.

A black and white painting of a group of women

The 11 Navy nurses were forced to surrender in January when their makeshift hospital in Manila fell to the Japanese. Just before the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942, the Army nurses were moved to the island of Corregidor. By May 6 Corregidor fell and the remaining 66 Army nurses were taken prisoner. The Japanese moved the nurses to an internment camp called Santo Tomas.


It wasn't long before Santo Tomas was filled with over 6,000 prisoners of war. Again, the nurses under Captain Davison built another hospital they called Santa Catalina Hospital. The nurses worked 4-hour shifts in the hospital. The nurses treated patients injured from beatings and sexual assault by their Japanese captors, accidents, diseases, and malnutrition. Despite having little medical supplies and working under conditions far less than sanitary, these women saved many people from the grip of death.


Early in February 1945 Santo Tomas Internment Camp was liberated by US forces. Three weeks later Los Banos Internment Camp was liberated, among the POWs were the 11 Navy nurses, who like the Army nurses, treated the malnourished, sick, and injured. Providing medical care gave all of the nurses a sense of purpose and the will to survive. Miraculously, all 77 nurses survived the war despite extremely harsh conditions and starvation diets. The average weight loss was 32% of the weight for each of the nurses. 

Early in February 1945 Santo Tomas Internment Camp was liberated by US forces. Three weeks later Los Banos Internment Camp was liberated, among the POWs were the 11 Navy nurses, who like the Army nurses, treated the malnourished, sick, and injured. Providing medical care gave all of the nurses a sense of purpose and the will to survive. Miraculously, all 77 nurses survived the war despite extremely harsh conditions and starvation diets. The average weight loss was 32% of the weight for each of the nurses. 

Captain Davison's leadership was credited for the survival of her 65 charges, though she insisted that she was just doing her job. She was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) posthumously in 2001, a long overdue award. These magnificent women were referred to by the press as “One of the beautiful legends of the Pacific War.” Even though the War Department used their capture to inspire patriotism and support for the war effort, these nurses were largely forgotten after their liberation. As for 2nd Lt Edith Webb, whom my granddaughter portrayed in a middle school play, she passed away in 2020. Edith's funeral was limited to family, due to COVID-19 restrictions.


When you walk into Legion Post 460, on the east wall there is a military mural, on the northeast corner of the mural there are images of military nurses. I hope that image of the nurses will now mean more to you, and you will never forget the Angels of Bataan.


Doug Thompson, Chaplain 

dotandjot@aol.com

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