The Rescue of JFK
Compiled by me ( Rellysdom Aaron Malakana)
Interview 2003
We approached the Japanese wreckage boat near Naru Island. We (I and Biuku) managed to go inside to collect what we want. We began to have some jokes with those guns (seek and hide) then suddenly we saw somebody approach and thought he was the Japanese. We quickly got inside our canoe and away from him.
We approached Olasana Island and were about to reach the
beach, suddenly a man crawled out from his hiding place and stood up demanding
us to come to him by waving his hand. In response, Biuku said, “No moa iu
Japan” (No, you are Japanese) but the man replied and said, “No, I am an
American, and look at my skin” (words and body language).
We were convinced when others crept out and voiced the name
of Mr. John Kari.
He led us to his mates and the first thing they asked about
was the cigarettes. We stay with them and that night Kennedy swims across to
Olasana bringing water for the crews. We introduced each other and said he is
the one who approached them at Naru Island. After a short conversation between
them, he told us to follow him to Naru Island. We got him inside the canoe and
paddle him across. We hear someone near and it was another friend (Bone Rose),
we cannot pull him in but have to drag him.
At Naru Island, Kennedy told us how he felt for his crewmates
and want to rescue them from the enemy. He wants us to send a message to their
base at Rendova. We told him to write on the coconut husk. He gave us his pocketknife
and asked if it is at the hands of the enemy? We said, “scratchim out” (Scratch
it off).
It was heavy rain at that time and on our way, we thought of
any possible way to prevent them from starving so we reached Rarumana Island to
Ben Kevu where Americans are at Olasana Island. They need food and water.
After we began our
journey. The enemy approached us and the only thing we did is to turn over our
canoe and hide under our canoe.
We reached Ilangana Munda, and talk to John Kari about the
events at Olosana. He sent a message to Rendova, and a landing craft came and
took us to Rendova we were sent to a highly decorated person, and we handed the
message. He questions us and we told them the location on the map.
At the evening we board a Patrol boat escorted by two of the
PT Boats on our way we have to go far as anywhere looking for the enemy and
then approached Naru for JFK and Olosana for the rest of the crew mates.
We return to Rendova and Kennedy and the boys invited us for
a small party and thanked us for what we did to them.
Kennedy told us “If I am alive at the end of the war I
promised to visit 2 of you. Then he gave us something like a medal, a 2-piece
decoration from his uniform, one for me and one for Biuku.
Aaron thought Olosana Island was renamed Kennedy Island.
But now he released that Olasana Island is still the Olasana.
They paddled across Naru Island covering Kennedy with
coconut fronds keeping him unnoticed by the enemy. This is confusing him said
Kumana.
Highlights during Events
1. When the crew asked for cigarettes
They gave them some cigarettes (collected from the wreckage)
they have no fire and Aaron rubbed sticks together and there was a fire. They
were excited to see such a thing.
2. When Kennedy asked for something to write on
We told him that we natives use many things so I (Aaron)
climbed a coconut palm and we took out the husk and show him where to write. He
was surprised and held our heads by carefully twisting them.
Before seeing the PT109 crews, I and Biuku were told to keep
watch for any survivors from the USA. That night we heard many sounds of
fighting. I and Biuku kept our heads halfway in the water to keep watch for any
sign. We were told to carry maps of that area to Kolobangara.
Other Information’s
Regarding some information during their time in the war, he
said he will not tell the story again but he only wants to tell about the
rescue.
After carefully looking through some of the stories of the
rescue, I managed to satisfy with his oral communication with me.
