War Fighter, World War II Veteran Dies

(Left picture is)World War II Veteran, Ben Moide at the War Memorial Park at Ela Beach in Port Moresby, for a honour World War Veterans on Remembrance Day.
Ben Moide, one of the Country's best surviving World War II veterans has died.
He died at the St John's Clinic in Gerehu, Port Moresby,
at 11am PNG time on Monday, 30th December, 2013. He left the sons and daughters of Papua New Guinea a day before 2014 fall in. 
His son John Moide, said his father had been suffering from respiratory problems and was rushed to the clinic early on Monday. "Father was admitted but, I think old age took the better of him," John said.
The medical staff in at Gerehu were friendly and did everything they could, but we lost the old man.
He was always lively and live his life to the fullest."
Moide was a member of the Pacific Island Battalion who braved the rain, mud, hunger and despair alongside Australian Soldiers to stop the advancement of the Japanese at Kokoda, Northern.
His parents were from Pari in Central Province, and Seduame in Western Province.
John said his father would be greatly missed by everyone.
"My father has left behind a legacy that we all Papua New Guineans can be proud of.
He is a great man and I am humbled to be his son," he said.
The Book Nameless Warrior - The Ben Moide Story told of how he ran away from home to join the Papuan Infantry Battalion at the age of 16 in 1940.
In July 1942, he was part of the Papuan Infantry Battalion platoon  that ambushed the Japanese at Awala in Northern Province.
A line from the book tells of the hardship that Moide and his platoon had to undergo: " From Awala to Kokoda and Deniki, to the Ope and Waria Rivers and the Scarlet Beach landings of Oro, Moide beat a busy track with his comrades before returning home in 1944 to act as a Papuan Infantry Battalion instructor until its demobilisation in 1945."
Mooide was a member of the Hanuabada Rugby League build up in the 1950s, and part of the Magani outfit in 1961 and 1962 as well.
He was employed with San Miguel and South Pacific Brewery Ltd before retiring in 1991.
From 1991 till 30th December, 2013, he lived with his people guiding them, influenced them and died.