The selection process that led to American anthropologist without any military history credentials as Australia’s National Military Heritage Advisor in PNG by the Australian High Commission could best be described as dodgy.

Both the Australian War Memorial and accredited Kokoda military historians were bypassed.

The American advisor seemed to be unaware that the Kokoda campaign was not fought in the air or on the sea and forces from the USA, UK, India, Fiji, China, Korea, Taiwan, etc were not involved.

He also seems to be unaware of the fact that women were not involved in the fighting along the Kokoda Trail or that the Australian War Memorial is the custodian of Australia’s military history.