As If Time Stood Still
When Freeman first found the area, he explained, “On our inaugural trek, we were hoping to find the remnants of a make-shift Japanese hospital and, potentially, relics of guns and ammunition. I never anticipated that we would find war dead.” He added, “It was as if time has stood still. We found ammunition running out in a line from the rifle that was dropped as the Japanese advanced to the rear.”
Excitement Was Growing
Brian Freeman has likened this experience into strolling onto the set of a film. He said, “I was excited that I’d been taken to such an important historical site but emotionally disturbed by seeing the remains of so many dead soldiers, from both sides.” Additionally, they discovered the remains of a Japanese soldier propped up against the bark of a tree, helmet still on, where he must have fallen in battle all those years ago. He found the boots near the corpse as well as plenty of ammunition, shells, machine guns, and hand grenades. In the foliage, they found more boots, bones, helmets, and water bottles.