When Jacob Vouza died in 1984 he was buried in his Marine uniform with all his medals.

Jacob Vouza, in 1975

Henderson Field, Guadalcanal
Jacob Vouza, a coastwatcher scout holds the head of a Japanese pilot, a revenge killing for his gamily treatment against his family.

Michael Claringbould comments:
Vouza was tortured by the Japanese in late august 1942. He looks fine here, so would be at least three months after his capture. The US marine who brought him to safety was Wilbur Bewley.

The dead Japanese has a beard. No Japanese pilots were allowed to wear beards. Isuspect this is one of the Japanese surrounded at the gifu area in December 1942 - and they brought down the head for publicity purposes.

John Innes comments:
This was probably the most famous photo in the Pacific that was not published. It was considered to show us in a not nice light. The story I heard from Vouza's family is that Vouza and a younger boy had been caught by this Japanes officer and was being taken back a Japanese camp. During the walk to the camp Vouza pointed up to a cocoanut tree and gestured that he would send the boy up to get some nuts. The Jap officer agreed. After the boy climbed the tree and sent down some nuts Vouza used his machette to open one and offered it to the jap. When the Jap officer tilted his head back to drink it Vouza sliced his head off. I do not know if the story is true. It is however what they told me. Another story is that late in the campaign Vouza had warned the Americans to be more vigilant because there were still Japs around and to prove it he went out and brought back the head.

Martin Clemens comments:
I asked Martin Clemens and he said that somebody else must have brought it in,as he didnt think Vouza would have done that. Vouza did slice a Japs head off in combat,but didnt bring it back. Martin said "...not that old Vouza had any love for Japs of course!".