Navy nurses rescued from Los Banos, March 1945. Chief Nurse Laura Cobb is speaking with Admiral Thomas Kinkaid.
Upon evacuation to Guam, Cobb, who had lost 35 pounds during her captivity, said: "I want to return to the Philippines...." The nurses were nevertheless returned to the United States, where Cobb was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and awarded the Bronze Star, a Gold Star in lieu of a second Bronze Star, the Defense of Philippines Ribbon, a Distinguished Army Unit Citation, and the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with two Battle Stars.
