Posted on 06/08/2010 5:56:55 AM PDT by Daffynition
An Australian trekker said he has discovered the site of a significant World War II battle in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, complete with the remains of Japanese soldiers right where they fell almost 70 years ago.
Former army Capt. Brian Freeman, an expert on the Kokoda Trail – a 60-mile trek through rugged mountainous country and rainforest of the island – said Monday he was led to the Eora Creek battle site where he found the remains of the soldiers.
The site about half a mile from the village of Eora Creek was believed to be the location of the last major battle that was pivotal in Australia’s campaign against the Japanese in Papau New Guinea.
Although the site was known to local villages, jungles reclaimed it after the battle of Eora Creek. Although locals hunted on the plateau surrounding the site, they avoided the 600-square-meter battle ground because of a belief that spirits of the dead were still present in the "lost battlefield."
What this means is that the site has apparently remained untouched since 1942
(Excerpt) Read more at news.blogs.cnn.com ...
Thanks for posting. Very interesting.
I’m surprised the organic material lasted that long in the jungle. I would have expected the leather, wood and bone to have been completely consumed by the jungle.
It is not uncommon, in those jungles, to find artifacts left over from WWII. I know people living in quonsets huts left by the US. If a new area is being built upon, a wise person always checks for ordnance and other items.
The Japanese were horrific.
Amazing! Thanks for posting.
Ping
“If a new area is being built upon, a wise person always checks for ordnance and other items.”
In 1975, I visited Corregidor. We were strongly advised to stick to the established trails.
Truly amazing. Thanks for posting!
fascinating stuff...
My Father was there - Almost died
The campaign on New Guinea is all but forgotten except by those who served there. Battles with names like Tarawa, Saipan, and Iwo Jima overshadow it. Yet Allied operations in New Guinea were essential to the U.S. Navy’s drive across the Central Pacific and to the U.S. Army’s liberation of the Philippine Islands from Japanese occupation. The remorseless Allied advance along the northern New Guinea coastline toward the Philippines forced the Japanese to divert precious ships, planes, and men who might otherwise have reinforced their crumbling Central Pacific front.
http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/new-guinea/ng.htm
Knew a couple of Marines who spent their weekends on Okinawa searching the tunnels of Japanese defense. These guys found a lot of real interesting stuff. Its just laying around.
FYI
Very interesting article.
Ping...thought you would find this interesting.
This is neat. Thanks ExTexasRedhead.
Yep. Cool screenname, btw.
Thanks
You’re welcome. Thought the military/history buffs would enjoy it too.
My wife’s dad served there too. Got shot up there, in fact.
He passed away a few years ago. If you haven’t read it, I reccomend “Ghost Mountain Boys”. An excellent historical acount of what happened there.
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Thanks Daffynition. Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. |
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