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IN THE SHADOW OF THE SUN
Historical Japanese Fiction
BY GEOFFREY AND ELAINE MEECE
Blurb
The story of Ressa and Geneva Jenkins.
What starts off as an adventure turns into a nightmare.
In August of 1941, sisters, Ressa and Geneva Jenkins, from Sevierville, Tennessee arrive in the Philippines to work as nurses at Sternberg Hospital in Manila. Life in this tropical paradise is everything they had hoped for, until the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. Geneva and Ressa are caught in the middle of the war and life becomes about survival.
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IN THE SHADOW OF THE SUN
Historical Japanese Fiction
BY GEOFFREY AND ELAINE MEECE
(PHOTO: Geneva and Ressa Jenkins )
In the Shadow of the Sun – the story of Ressa and Geneva Jenkins from Tennessee in WWII. They were part of the Angels of Bataan.
(This scene is when Ressa and Geneva first arrive in Manila and are driven to the Army/Navy Club to meet other nurses. They have traveled across on an ocean liner with Winnie and Dorothy. We had journals, so the story is very true.)
Excerpt
GENEVA August 1, 1941 Manila
It was around ten in the morning when the car pulled up to the Army/Navy Club. The driver quickly climbed out and opened the back door allowing us to exit. Our small entourage entered the facility.
The club entrance opened into a spacious lobby. Tall massive arches bordered each side. A balcony wrapped around the upper level looking down on the open floor below. Bing Crosby’s smooth voice flowed like silk over the radio waves. Three off-duty nurses served as a welcoming committee. We joined them at a large table in padded comfortable chairs. A waiter served drinks to us.
Captain MacNeil joined a group of men at the bar. I was sure we’d be seeing him at the hospital.
“Ladies, I’d like to introduce the latest addition to our staff. These are the Jenkins sisters, Ressa and Geneva, and this is Dorothy Scholl. We also have Winnie Madden, who will be our guest for a day or two before heading to Corregidor,” Captain Davison added.
“Welcome to Manila, I’m Juanita Redmond.” The girl was pretty enough to be a Hollywood movie star. Her thick, dark hair contrasted with her blue eyes and fair skin. “Nice meeting you. I look forward to working with you.”
She spoke in a refined and drawn out southern accent that one would expect from the affluent of the old south.
At that point, an attractive slender brunette lady, smiled at us. “Hi, I’m Francis Nash. You girls are going to like it here, trust me.”
While her accent was also southern, it didn’t have the refinement of Juanita’s. She had more of a twang. “Where do you call home?” I asked Francis.
“I’m a Georgia peach. What about you?”
“We’re from Tennessee.”
“I’ve got a cousin there. Which part are y’all from?”
“Sevierville in the eastern part of the state.”
“She’s around Nashville. I always thought Tennessee was a beautiful state especially the part you’re from. The Smokies are gorgeous in the fall when the leaves are changing.”
“It’s pretty enough,” Ressa said. “Once those leaves fall it gets cold. Winnie being from Wisconsin knows about cold.”
“You betcha. The snow gets up to my ears.”
“We’ve had some large snows in Missouri. Probably not what you get in Wisconsin,” Dorothy commented.
“That is one thing we don’t have to worry about here.” A slender sandy blonde girl said. “I’m Madeline Ullom, and like Francis said you girls are going to love the Philippines. You’ll be sunbathing at the pool or playing golf while your friends back home are plodding through snow.”
“Golf is a great way to meet officers. Do any of you play?” Juanita inquired.
“I like the game, but I’m not very good,” Ressa admitted.
“Well, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to sharpen your skills.”
“Why’s that?” I asked.
“Mainly due to the four-hour shifts,” Francis said. “Honey, that’s all you will work in the daytime because of the heat. Believe me, it is a long four hours.”
“It is, but it still gives you ample time off to do whatever you feel inclined to do,” Madeline said. “You can choose from tennis, golf, badminton, bowling, and swimming.”
“I’m sure you’ll find the schedule a lot less strenuous than what you had in the hospitals back home,” Captain Davison said.
“How far is Ft. McKinley?” Dorothy asked.
“Close, very close,” Josie said. “You’ll be seeing your Mr. Arnold often.”
“That’s nice to know,” Dorothy said, blushing because Josie knew exactly why she was so interested in Ft. McKinley.
Our apprehensions and thoughts of war were quickly dismissed and replaced with laughter and light-hearted conversation.
“I just came back from Corregidor. It’s beautiful,” Josie said to Winnie. The lieutenant had a long, thin face and wore glasses that hid her green eyes. Like most nurses, she wore her brown hair twisted in a bun.
Winnie didn’t appear convinced. Concern flickered in her eyes. “Ya know, I heard it’s a tunnel, not even a real building.”
Josie laughed. “That’s only partially true, but the hospital and nurses’ quarters are Topside. The tunnel is mainly offices and used for storage.”
Winnie offered Josie a smile. “Thanks for telling me. Believe you me, it made me feel a whole lot better hearing it.”
“You will be working with a great group. Isn’t that right, Captain?”
“Absolutely, and here’s another little tidbit of information, they call it the Rock because it is an impenetrable fortress. If we end up at war with Japan like they predict, you will be in the safest place of all. Corregidor can’t be taken, no matter what they throw at it,” Captain Davison stated.
“That’s what Captain MacNeil told us on the boat,” I said.
Fans overhead and a slight breeze off the bay helped negate the hot humidity. Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit played over the sound system. A perfect setting to have a few drinks and enjoy the company of our new comrades. Everyone seemed fond of gin.
We hadn’t been seated too long when I nudged Ressa. “Isn’t that John Raulston, Joe’s little brother?”
Both men had become doctors, but we didn’t have a clue one of them would be here. It made the world seem so small.
“Well, I’ll be. It sure looks like him. He’s waving and headed our way.”
Ressa flashed him a smile. “Look who’s here.”
“What are the Jenkins girls doing this far from Tennessee?” he asked.
“We were just about to ask you the same thing,” Ressa replied.
“Just doing my duty same as you two. Are y’all homesick yet?”
“Not really. We’ve had such a nice welcome that I haven’t thought about home. Speaking of which, I’m forgetting my manners. Captain Davison and ladies, I’d like you to meet Captain John Raulston.”
“My pleasure, ladies.” he said with a slight bow.
A slow tune by Tommy Dorsey, All of This and Heaven Too started playing on the radio. “Geneva, I’m a little rusty, but would you care to dance?”
“Sure, I’d love to.” I looked back at Ressa and winked before placing my hand in his and letting him escort me to the center of the room. Several other couples were already dancing.
We moved gracefully around the dance floor. If he was rusty, it didn’t show. I glanced over at Ressa and smiled. She waved from the table.
“Your sister said she’s not homesick. What about you?” he asked.
“Not me. I don’t get homesick. Besides, I like it here.”
“I do too,” he confirmed. “It’s great for the time being, but I hope I’m long gone when Japan attacks.”
“Do you really believe they will?”
“War with Japan is a certainty. Our government has been preparing for it.”
“Preparing how?”
“Bringing in more soldiers and nurses.”
“That doesn’t prove anything.”
“At the same time, they’ve been trying to get civilians out.”
“With MacArthur here, I doubt they’ll attack.”
“They have spies. And they know, he’s only been training the Filipino soldiers for six months. Not only that, the weapons our men are using were left over from the Great War. The Japs have us outgunned.”
“I’m sure MacArthur and Roosevelt have a plan.”
“The only plan they have is the WPO-3. Basically, we protect the bay and if that fails we retreat to the jungles and hills until Roosevelt sends reinforcements.”
I stopped dancing and stared up at him. “Surely, they have something better than that.”
“Nope. I’d appreciate you not mentioning it. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Trust me. Your secret’s safe with me.” I glanced back at Ressa. “Let’s join the others.”
“I hope I didn’t spoil your day with my doom and gloom talk. Hopefully, you and Ressa will be safe at home when they make their move.”
“Nothing could ruin this day. With the exception of the weather, it’s been perfect.”
He escorted me back to the other nurses who’d already had a round of gin and were starting a second drink.
“How’s Joe?” Ressa asked John.
“Doing well. He’s working at a hospital back home for now.” He politely turned to everyone. “Ladies, it was nice meeting all of you, and Geneva, thanks for the dance. I’m sure we’ll be crossing paths here.”
After he left, they all turned their eyes on me.
Juanita smiled. “You two made a sweet couple.”
“He’s just a kid from back home,” I said. “We were friends with his brother.”
“Sugar, there’s not a shortage of men here,” Francis Nash said. “Plenty of Army and Navy guys.”
“Any flyers?” Ressa asked.
“Lots of them,” Josie said. “They come over from Clark Field.”
“I’ve already found my man,” Dorothy said on a dreamy sigh.
“Maybe you shouldn’t decide until you’ve shopped around. Sweetie, this is like a smorgasbord of men,” Juanita said in her refined southern accent.
“No, thank you. I knew the moment I laid eyes on Arnold, he’s the one,” Dorothy confessed.
“Suit yourself.” Juanita swirled her ice around in her glass.
“Believe you me, I’ve never seen a couple fall in love as quickly as those two,” Winnie commented. “From the moment they saw each other, they had eyes for nobody else.”
“That’s true,” I said.
“She might change her mind. This place gets hopping on the weekends,” Juanita added. “Ressa, do you like to dance?”
Ressa nodded. “I love to dance.”
She grinned. “Get your dancing shoes ready.”
My sister looked at me. “Geneva, looks like we came to the right place.”
Though I nodded and gave her a light smile, I couldn’t help but think about what John had told me. Sadly, it had overshadowed my happiness.
About Authors Geoffrey and Elaine Meece…
Geoffrey Meece is the author of Voice of a Warrior, a poetry book. He has written two short stories in the Malice Anthologies published with Dark Oak Press.
Elaine Meece was a previous PAN member of Romance Writers of America. Now she belongs to Writing in the Bluff and Malice of Memphis. a crime writer/mystery group. She has 19 titles. Fifteen are romantic suspense. She has a three book comedy series, Love Shack, Sugar Shack, and Let’s Shack Up. She co-authored In the Shadow of the Sun, a historical based on a true story, with her husband.
She has been a finalist and won RWA chapter contests for best romantic suspense including Launching a Star contest. Also for Love Shack, she was a finalist in the Launching a Star contest.
Elaine is married to Geoffrey Meece, who is also a writer.
In their free time, they love to go inner tubing or white water rafting.
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Links to Geoffrey & Elaine’s websites, blogs, books, #ad etc.:
Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/3ShyTBH
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3LxsLBl
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Elaine-Meece/author/B008C38P86?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Voice of a Warrior offers a variety of poetry and prose from humorous to more serious topics, from war poems to love poems to silly tales. Whether it’s riding over the ocean in a gallant sailing vessel or observing life from a monkey’s point of view, Geoffrey Meece whirls magic into ordinary words bringing to life warriors and generals of old, memories from the fifties, and giving a more vivid perspective on great religious moments in the Christian faith. This is a book to be enjoyed by both men and women as Geoffrey Meece shares his thoughts and words with others.
Voice of A Warrior by Geoffrey Meece Paperback:
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Good morning, Elaine and Geoffrey, and welcome back to Karen’s Killer Book Bench. What a nice change of pace for us as readers! I loved the excerpt and am looking forward to reading this book. Thank you for sharing it with us today!
As we fought over who was writing what, we never realized we were creating a masterpiece. We divided the diaries into section. Geoff was green, I was the blue and pink was up for grabs. We tried not to repeat information.
I’m loving the premise of your book. Thank you for sharing.
We have a huge journal of notes and lots of articles and other books written by other nurses. We kept to their notes.
A fascinating period in history… women’s role in the military is not generally well known…. Will be a good read
We became so close to these ladies even though they passed on many years ago. We had their diaries and personal items, scrapbooks, and letters. It’s set up like a journal, but each posting moves the story forward.
Thank you for stopping by and sharing the part of this story. Takes me back to days of watching black and white war movies with my dad as a kid.
We were told by a 97 year old veteran that this book is the best he’s read. It describes so much of the time and how it was during the war. We stayed true to their notes.
This sounds so good, I’m looking forward to reading it.
You will not be disappointed. It is set like a journal but each day moves the story forward. In back is a scrapbook. Do not look at it first or you know what happens. The sisters have different fates.