To the American medics, her reaction seemed extreme. After all, surgery was a common procedure on the battlefield, and their goal was to heal. They were accustomed to soldiers under duress, but they couldn’t understand why a woman, who had been through so much, would be terrified of an operation.
“Don’t touch me!” she screamed, recoiling from their approach. “They’ll cut her open! They’ll cut me open! Please, don’t!”
The medics were taken aback. It was the first time they had encountered a POW with such a visceral reaction to the idea of medical treatment. In a moment of confusion, they tried to calm Tanaka down, assuring her that they would help her. But their words did little to assuage her fear.
In that moment, Dr. James Reynolds, a senior American physician, stepped in. He had seen many things during the war, but this was different. He took a moment to try and understand her fear, something he hadn’t done with other patients before. He bent down to her level and spoke gently.
“Why are you so afraid?” he asked.
