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jackrebneysfern t1_j6k558w wrote

Reply to comment by Common-Breakfast-245 in My Pop being rescued by the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, deep in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. October 1943. by Common-Breakfast-245

Prepare yourself. Those guys went through some of the most difficult conditions of the whole war. If your father was where I suspect he was he’s a hero just for making it out. One question, does your family come from the upper Midwest by chance? I only ask because a lot of the troops sent to Papua were from Michigan, Minnesota & Wisconsin.

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Common-Breakfast-245 OP t1_j6k6zlb wrote

Australia. I remember pop saying "The Yanks were useless because the didn't understand the bush". Referring to the lack of experience in the extremely hot weather and rugged terrain. Pop grew up in a part of Australia that regularly experienced 40 degrees Celsius days.

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jackrebneysfern t1_j6ldv00 wrote

Wow that’s cool. So your pops was likely alongside those guys. Enduring the same hardships. It’s a crazy story. How crossing the island to defend Port Moresby they had to cross malaria ridden jungles from hell then cross over a 10,000 ft mountain range with ice, snow and freezing temps. Then back down into a ferocious battle so sick and weary they could barely fight.

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mlaforce321 t1_j6k5oat wrote

I was under the impression OP was Australian, as he was referring to the natives as the Fuzzy Wuzzy Boys.

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jackrebneysfern t1_j6ld401 wrote

I think that’s mentioned in the book too. But the book is really great describing the conditions and hardships. Great read.

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