When did you become interested in MIA Cases?
Until I was drawn into MIAs, I guess my work was rather mundane, but once I developed the MIA "passion", I would have to say that that was the highlight of my career. When I think how badly we started our relationship, and what was ultimately achieved when it could have gone in the opposite direction, and one can only speculate what that could have meant. One individual assigned to CILHI for which I am indebted as he recognized that I had something to offer, and that was Captain Benny Woodard. He had a passion equal to mine, and I guess it was he who kept pushing that resulted in my first contract being issued. He is one fellow with whom I would like to make contact again. On his departure, his replacement, although a fine young fellow, did not have the same mental capacity. And then his replacement would have to rate as the most ignorant, arrogant and self-opinionated person I have ever met. I had to do so much behind the scene to smooth what he had ruffled. And then the jerk had the audacity to crucify me on his return to save his thin skin. The report I made was simply dismissed by CIL - although I often wonder what the outcome would have been had my report been dropped off at the local newspaper. Although it might have done nothing, as money speaks all languages, and heaven help us, CIL has plenty of that to throw around.

What was your first interaction with CILHI about US MIA's?
My first contact with them was in 1979, when I temporarily lifted an embargo on WWII crash sites to cater for them. It was not a very auspicious occasion. This was on 20 April 1979, in the Melanesian Hotel, in Lae. I had flown across to meet with them, and when I introduced myself, both Webb and Smith were polite, but that was all. I was wanting to accompany them on the trip to Kassam Pass and a B-24 site. When I detected that there were not very fussed with my presence, I excused myself and returned to my room. I called my boss, who insisted that I accompany them, no matter what their objections may have been, otherwise they can pack their bags and go back to Hawaii. I thought about that, but decided against following his wishes, so I simply returned to Moresby the next day. I felt that there was something that we could all gain by holding our cool. The following year, CILHI had a new CO, Rosenberg, and he initiated contact with me, and that was the start of an excellent relationship between CIL, the National Museum, and the Government of Papua New Guinea. One can only speculate what the outcome would have been had I complied with my director's wishes! Maybe Webb owes me a favour - who knows!! Anyhow, Webb has always struck me as a very efficient, methodical and cool character, but one who really did not like messing with civilians, and more so those from another country's bureaucracy. He seemed to take readily to those who could further his aims and aspirations, although we did have a friendly and amicable relationship over the years. I do not know if he ever bothered to defend me when CIL were denigrating me in 1994, after he returned to CIL in a civilian capacity.

Speak about your collaboration with Japanese MIA research
We tried to get the Japanese to work through us, but they were a law unto themselves, and always used the excuse that they did not understand. Actually, after the Japanese had finished retrieving the remains, I then entered the fuselage, and managed to find a stack more which I handed to them. Shades of the "efficiency" of CILHI!

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