Abstract:
Drafted into the army in 1942, Ellis Jones set off on this adventure with a positive attitude. There were times when the journey was physically painful: he was frostbitten, hospitalized, blistered from long-distance hikes. Sometimes it was emotionally painful: sobering graveyards on distant islands, dead bodies with smoke coming out of eye sockets, witnessing another soldier’s death. It had many happy moments too: a gluttonous dinner provided by generous civilians, a thrilling plane ride with a stunt pilot, naked swims in gentle tropical seas. He mingled with primitive New Guinea natives, witnessed bombings, the VJ-day ceremony, and even a typhoon.