As a child in 1956 I saw an orthodontist about my teeth. The cost was too high, so I still have an “interesting bite” according to my dentist. What I remember most was seeing the terrible teeth of the doctor. Commenting about it later to my mother she told me Dr. Reese had been on the Bataan death march. I had no idea what that meant.
This many years later I read Angels of the Pacific by Elise Hooper and finally understood. Historical fiction, but carefully researched, Hooper writes of the World War Two Japanese attack on the Philippines one day after the December 7, 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor. The story begins in Bataan and Corregidor west of Manila focusing on the American nurse taken prisoners there. It continues to their imprisonment in a P.O.W camp in Manila and introduces us to the underground Philippine civilians working against the Japanese occupiers.
Not for the faint of heart, the novel depicts the cruelty that went on during the occupation. While it doesn’t directly mention the death march, the overall grim picture of those years until 1945 let me understand not only Dr. Reese’s terrible teeth but also his miraculous survival. Military and civilian suffering was immense, many died, and many were permanently injured. Many survived, including many of the women characters portrayed in the novel.
I have always appreciated balanced novels set in wartime. The courage, perseverance and underground tactics of many during those times encourage me. For me these accounts speak out against the cruelty so often on display both then and now. They remind me that together we can always “find a way out of no way.”
Saved By Words 
That sounds like a very interesting read. My uncle (dad’s older brother) was POW of the Japanese in Burma after being captured in 1942. He returned from that imprisonment a changed man, with a fierce hatred of all things Japanese until his dying day.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I visited Guam in the early 70’s the experience was clearly still affecting people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is beyond understanding to most of us just how cruel humankind can be.
LikeLike
I am aware of that every day here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciate your book recommendations. WW2 era historical novels are among my favorite reads.
LikeLike
I read many in the past year. I will try to remember some of titles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I’ve already checked out this book from the local library.
LikeLike
I’ve only ever had NHS dental care and my teeth were too much for them – even back in pre-covid days before Covid and sheer numbers screwed up NHS dentistry forever.
Nowadays (or perhaps I mean pre-covid) I suspect a child showing with my overcrowding would have teeth removed, but back then they were reluctant to take out healthy teeth for any reason. They would probably fall out sometime anyway.
My bottom set look like an ancient graveyard with headstones overlapping, but fortunately they don’t show even when I smile.
Every dentist I have had since my thirties has had an accent of some kind. I don’t think our health service would survive at all without the incomers we have working in it at every level.
It’s a shame we’re such a small island and can’t welcome more refugees.
LikeLike
An insightful recommendation
LikeLike
Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your review is excellent, and thank you for your story connection with the dentist’s teeth.
LikeLike
Thank you for the recommendation. One in the same area is the Narrow Road to the Deep North by an Audtralian recounting the fictionalised experiences of a pow in Burma which has just been made into a film. Not sure I can watch what was a hard but utterly compelling read.
LikeLike