To Orwell Today,

Happy New Year!

Thank you for sending the email from Bob Beck -- I know he knew my grandfather and he has responded that he will help out.

Check the Aaron Kumana Website -- I uploaded some of Kumana's wife's funeral.

All the best,
Mala Rellysdom

Greetings Mala,

Thanks for news that your grandfather's website has been updated with family photos, including of your grandmother's funeral:

I wonder if you've heard the news that the future king of England, Prince William and his wife, are going on tour to the Solomon Islands soon?

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will up their royal duties ahead of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee next year, taking part in their second official oversees visit, Clarence House has confirmed. Officials have revealed Prince William and Kate Middleton will be visiting Solomon Islands on a state visit on behalf of the Queen. Prince William and Kate will also visit Malaysia, Singapore, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. After the success of their trip to Canada and North America earlier this year, William and Kate will join the rest of the royal family, who between them will visit every Commonwealth realm next year. The date of their visits are yet to be confirmed, but it's thought the trip will be part of an increasing schedule of official engagements, as the newlywed royal couple step up their royal duties ahead of a permanent move to Kensington Palace in 2013....

I'm thinking it would be wonderful if your grandfather could be included in some way with their visit -- perhaps the Royals would go to the island where Kumana lives, and they could see his Shrine to JFK.

JFK met Prince William's great-grandfather, King George VI when JFK's father was Ambassador to England in 1939: THE KENNEDYS AT THE COURT OF ST JAMES: On May 4, 1939, Ambassador Kennedy and his family sat for a formal photographic portrait before dining with the king and Queen. JFK, on leave from Harvard for an independent study project, was present on this occasion.

Above is a photo of JFK's mother and father with King George VI at Buckingham Palace in 1939.

Then in 1961, when JFK was president, he met Prince William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II: PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE: The President and First Lady were guests of honor at a banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. It was the first time an American president had dined at the Palace since 1918...

JFK was very good friends with many British people before, during and after World War II, and probably Prince William would appreciate meeting Aaron Kumana, the Solomon Islander who saved JFK's life.

I can't help but think JFK would be happy if such a godcidental event could come true.

All the best,
Jackie Jura

PS - I have a thick book full of World War II stories written by various writers, and one of them is SURVIVAL by John Hersey:

...With the help of the natives, the PT made its way to Bird Island. A skiff went in and picked up the men. In the deep of the night, the PT and its happy cargo roared back toward base. The squadron medic had sent some brandy along to revive the weakened men. Johnston felt the need of a little revival. In fact, he felt he needed quite a bit of revival. After taking care of that, he retired topside and sat with his arms around a couple of roly-poly, mission-trained natives. And in the fresh breeze on the way home they sang together a hymn all three happened to know:

Hersey's story, in its entirety, is transcribed elsewhere on ORWELL TODAY under the heading SURVIVAL: THE STORY OF PT-109* but above I scanned opening pages (516-517) and the last page (526) telling about Kumana singing -- just like he does in the recent video you sent from his website:

To Orwell Today,

Thanks JJ for your continuous support. I will still continue to upload.

My grandfather will be very happy for the visitation of the prince.

Regards,
Mala

Hello again Mala,

In May 1965 -- four years after President Kennedy and the First Lady visited Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace in 1961, and two years after JFK's death in 1963 -- Jackie, Caroline and John-John accompanied the Queen to the dedication of the JFK Memorial in England.

In the ceremony the Queen gave an acre of British ground over to the USA, marked by a white stone monument, and both Jackie and Prime Minister Harold Macmillan delivered speeches.

All the best,
Jackie Jura

Prince William and Kate to visit Solomon Islands, Solomon Times, Dec 16, 2011

WONDERING WAS BROTHER ON PT-109?

JFK GI-JOE ROCKING MEMORIAL

HEADHUNTING SOLOMON ISLANDS MUSEUM