THE AUTHOR -
While he enjoyed putting together the stories about his mates in the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment in ‘It Happened to Us’ Mark I and Mark II, he had a deep-seated conviction that their beliefs about the significant aspects of the war in the Pacific were slowly slipping into oblivion. If the facts about the invasion were not told before those who experienced them passed on, a comprehensive version of the war in the Pacific would disappear.
As we move further away from World War II, Australian’s interest in our history seems to heighten but the truth becomes more difficult to determine.
It is sixty years since Japan invaded the Pacific. Its history rests in the archives and a multitude of books, and references about individual aspects and various theatres of the war fill the libraries of the world. Collectively these records contain their authors’ version of the truth, but the young are unlikely to delve through them.
The author believes that a short version of the significant highlights of Japan’s invasion of the Pacific, should be put together for the young to think about. ‘It Happened to Us - Mark III’ aims to give them an overall impression of it.
The author has great confidence in the youth of today, and believes that the POWs’ views of the invasion of the Pacific should be made known to them.
One day they will be the leaders of our country, responsible for making decisions about the future security and happiness of our nation. It is crucial that their decisions be right.
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