Papua New Guinea’s most famous War Veteran, Ben Moide, passed away on Monday, the 30th of December, 2013.
The 91 year old died from heart failure at the Saint John’s Gerehu hospital in Port Moresby.
While his body is at the funeral home waiting for a state funeral, his family is still in shock over this loss.
His extended family shared this moment of loss together, reflecting on memories of their father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
The late Moide served in the Papuan Infantry Battalion fighting alongside Australians in the battle of Kokoda during the Second World War.
He joined the Battalion at the age of 16, and since then the efforts of this war hero from Gulf has been acknowledged by both Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Moide was the last surviving Papua New Guinean veteran that represented his comrades who fought during the Kokoda campaign, assisting Aussies to repel the Japanese. It was here that he and his Papua New Guinean counterparts were famously and affectionately dubbed the Fuzzy Wuzzy angels by the Australian Soldiers.
He has been the face at every Remembrance Day and Kokoda campaign anniversary.
Gwen Moide is one of late, Moide’s seven children, who says the old man’s passing has left a vacuum in the family.
The children are grateful for what their father had done in the war, for through this, they had the privilege of meeting many important people.
Despite being awarded several medals, the war hero’s children believe he deserved to be a knight.
Late Ben Moide will receive a state funeral next week.
He leaves behind 7 children, 45 grandchildren and 46 great grandchildren.
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