Quote:
Originally posted by V_D
Digging in the family roots cellars can sure bring up some neatold roots, eh?
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Yes, It sure can.
In 1974 I met my "Java Tiger". She is an orphan since WW 2. So I began looking for her roots. We knew that her father had been murdered on Tarakan Island by the Japanese. We also knew that her grandfather had been in the Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL). But the rest?
Nowadays we know most of the whole family story. I am writing a book on this - no fiction is needed.
So it were the roots of my wife that brought me to research the KNIL. During the research work I came across the KNIL-Vets association. After a while they selected me as a member (the only one who was not Dutch and the only one that never had served in the KNIL). They did not select me on my merits - but on my wifes´. During WW 2 her family lost 5 NCOs in the KNIL plus possibly another three - my research goes on.
So I became an adopted "Anak KNIL" - a child of the KNIL. But her only surviving aunt who got 100 yrs old some months ago is a
real anak KNIL. Born in the outpost (looked like a fort in Wild West movies) Lho Sekoen in Atjeh, N Sumatra, in the year of 1904. There was a war going on in Atjeh and there is still one going on in 2004.
If I remember right US did occupy Island during WW 2.
Take care,
Stellan