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Righting a history before it is lost
In Australia Rod met with his old friend Owen Jenkin who traveled with him to Canada four decades ago. Owens publishing company just published a unique book of stories about the Kokoda Trail in New Guinea. Most Australians know about Kokoda but much of the real story hadn not been heard, had even been hidden. For over a month a bunch of partly trained young Australians used guerilla tactics to fight successfully against an overwhelming force of the best jungle troops in the world. Ultimately they prevented the Japanese from taking New Guinea and isolating Australia.
Carl Johnson compiled the material, much of it from diaries and letters kept by families. Owen edited it.
Owen convinced the Governor General of Australia to write the forward in the book and the Federal Treasurer Peter Costello to speak at the launch. The launch at the St. Kilda Road War Memorial in Melbourne was well publicized.
And just recently largely because of the book Australia again has a 39th Infantry Battalion.
Well done Owen.