NEW GUINEA: For Gallantry & Allergy

At first the Aussie jungle fighters jeered at Media Koigi’s goose pimples. Soon they grew respectful. A native New Guinea scout, Koigi said his flesh rose whenever the enemy was near. At night, in deep jungle bivouacs, he would suddenly awaken, feel the skin tightening on his arms, whisper to his sergeant: “Japan man, Japan man.” He was always as right as radar. Once, at Koigi’s direction, the Aussies threw a grenade 50 yards up the dense jungle trail, killed an unseen Jap.

Last week, for gallantry and allergy, Koigi won the Australian Army’s Loyal Service Medal.