
Dance with me. That’s an order. Six words. The room freezes. 43 Japanese women stop breathing at the exact same moment. Ko, 24, signals operator…

You’ll serve dinner in your undergarments. Six words. The messaul goes silent. 12 German women stop breathing. Margaret feels her stomach drop through the frozen…

Undress me. Two words. The American officer’s voice is flat. Leisel’s hands won’t stop shaking. She’s standing in the officer’s quarters. Wooden walls, single lamp,…

North Africa, November 1942. The air tastes of sand and diesel and something else, something chemical, almost electrical, as a convoy of what appear to…

July 1942, somewhere in the Libyan desert, 200 miles behind RML’s front line, a standard American Willies jeep built to carry four men and a…

“Polish My Boots While Kneeling Between My Legs” — What Japanese Women POWs Had to Do Degraded Them kneel. One word, Harooqi drops. Her knees…

Milk the cows with your bare hands. Ela freezes. Her fingers stop midair. The American soldier’s mouth is still moving, but she can’t hear anything…

Put this on. He holds up silk, thin, almost transparent. It belonged to my wife. Tomoko’s hands won’t stop shaking. The fabric catches afternoon light.…

Hold my belt tight. Five words. 17 women stop breathing. Marta’s fingers hover an inch from the American soldier’s waist. She’s 22. Vermach signals clerk.…

Lick your fingers. Three words. The messaul freezes. 47 Japanese women, hands still greasy from rice and vegetables. Stop breathing. Norico, 24, signals operator from…




