BACK THEN Bathing beauties ... and Bataan nightmare

Starting April 9, 1942, the Imperial Japanese Army forced the transfer of up to 80,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war in what became known as The Bataan Death March. But in this photo, published April 14, 1942, there’s no evidence of the strife that must have been occurring at that moment. Back then, it could take days for internationally circulated news photos to reach outlets like the Coeur d’Alene Press. The caption in this photo acknowledges the possible horror but prefers to take the optimistic route. It reads:

United States Army nurses bathe in the only place available on Bataan — a creek near their camp — which formed their bath, beauty parlor and laundry. This picture was made before Bataan fell and now these nurses may be among those reported to have made good their escape to Corregidor.

NEA Telephoto