Pasukan Nugini - New Guinea Force
“Tentara Australia, Prajurit George "Dick" Whittington, dibantu oleh petugas Papua Raphael Oimbari dekat Buna pada tanggal 25 Desember 1942. Whittington meninggal pada bulan Februari 1943 karena efek tifus semak, pembunuh yang tidak banyak diketahui banyak tentara Sekutu dan Jepang di Pasifik.
Selama perang di Papua Nugini, penduduk lokal yang bersimpati kepada pasukan Australia akan membantu jika mereka bisa. Khususnya, mereka akan membantu dalam mengangkut toko dan peralatan melalui medan yang kasar. Tim membawa tentara Australia yang terluka parah dan sakit sepanjang perjalanan kembali ke pangkalan mereka.
Kasih sayang dan perhatian mereka terhadap para korban membuat mereka dikagumi dan dihormati oleh orang Australia, yang menjuluki orang-orang ini sebagai malaikat kabur mereka. Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels diberi nama karena rambut keritingnya yang keriting dan perannya yang membantu.
Pada bulan Juni 1942, Mayor Jenderal Australia Basil Morris mengeluarkan "Perintah Penduduk Asli", yang memungkinkan penduduk asli Papua direkrut sebagai pembawa selama tiga tahun. Antara Agustus dan Desember tahun itu, sekitar 16.000 orang Papua direkrut, seringkali dengan janji-janji palsu seperti masa kerja yang lebih pendek atau kondisi kerja yang tidak terlalu sulit. Dalam beberapa kesempatan, orang Papua dipaksa bekerja.
Pada tahun 2009, pemerintah Australia mulai menganugerahkan 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Commemorative Medallion' kepada warga Papua Nugini yang masih hidup yang membantu upaya perang Australia, biasanya membawa korban selamat dan keluarga mereka ke Port Moresby untuk presentasi seremonial. Para veteran Australia umumnya mengeluh bahwa pengakuan itu terlalu sedikit, terlalu terlambat.”
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“Australian soldier, Private George "Dick" Whittington, being aided by Papuan orderly Raphael Oimbari near Buna on December 25th, 1942. Whittington died in February 1943 from the effects of bush typhus, a little-known killer of many Allied and Japanese soldiers in the Pacific.
During the war in Papua New Guinea, the local population who were sympathetic to the Australian troops would assist where they could. Notably, they would help in transporting stores and equipment over the rough terrain. Teams carried seriously wounded and sick Australian soldiers all the way back to their bases.
Their compassion and care of the casualties earned them admiration and respect from the Australians, who dubbed these men their fuzzy wuzzy angels. The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels were named for both their frizzy curly hair and helpful role.
In June 1942, Australian Major General Basil Morris issued an "Employment of Natives Order", which allowed native Papuans to be recruited as carriers for three years. Between August and December that year, around 16,000 Papuans were recruited, often with false promises such as a shorter period of service or a less difficult working condition. In some occasions, the Papuans were forced into service.
In 2009, the Australian government began awarding the 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Commemorative Medallion' to living Papua New Guineans who assisted the Australian war effort, usually bringing survivors and their families to Port Moresby for ceremonial presentations. Australian veterans generally complained that the recognition was too little, too late.”