American Dead

Solomon Islanders' Tribute to American Dead

MANY gallant Americans died in the Solomon Islands battles in 1942-3.

On many lonely islands and villages, there are cemeteries where are buried the Servicemen who gave their lives for freedom and for humanity.

The Solomons natives—descendants of people who were notorious 100 years ago for their savagery and treachery—are carefully tending the war cemeteries.

At one island, the villagers built a grass chapel beside the graves, as a memorial

and a tribute to the men who freed them from the Japs; and here is the speech made, in superior Pidgin, by the village chief when the chapel was opened and dedicated: — “We want to tell you, all people, that all me fella belong build this church, because we want to thank you. We have worked hard, and we hope you like this church. And we pray that God will bless all of you and we hope you will pray for your friends who are lying in this ceme tery. Also we wish to thank all the American and Allies who have fought to push the enemy out of our land. Now we give this church to you. But this church no belong you and me—this church belong God. And we ask God to bless us all. Thank you.”

Mr. O. Oberdorf, of Eastern Papua, was discharged recently from the Aus tralian forces as medically unfit. He was in the forces for 20 months, in the course of which he rendered distinguished service in small craft along the NE coast of Papua. He hopes to return to a civil occupation in Papua.

A drawing of the palm-leaf Chapel, made by one of the American soldiers at the dedication ceremony.