The unsung heroes of yester years:

By David Lepi Papua New Guinea opened the year’s Parliament sitting on March 11, 2025 with special tribute to one of the country’s pioneer politicians and second prime minister from Independence, the late Sir Julius Chan. Respectfully known as the “Last Man Standing’, Sir Julius played a pivotal role in Papua New Guinea’s political and economic development, serving twice as prime minister and four times as Deputy Prime Minister. At the time of his passing he was Governor of New Ireland Province.

Magnificent recognition and fitting accolades came from both sides of the house and among them was the chief attribute, Sir Julius or Sir J, as he was adorably called, was his decisiveness in taking affirmative action. His two decisions made as prime minister on two different occasions that etches in the memories of Papua New Guineans forever, are his deployment of PNG Defence Force soldiers as regional peace keepers to Vanuatu in 1980 to quell the Jimmy Steven rebellion that threaten our newly-independent Melanesian wantok. And his most enigmatic decision ever was, putting an end to the Bougainvillea conflict, militarily, using one of the world’s specialised mercenaries.



Whether popular or not it was an executive order made consciously on the pain of the consequences. And as a true patriot Sir J was ready to defend both his decision and the honor of the country he loved so dear. They say history only remembers kings and not soldiers but our heroes who featured in the Coconut War in Vanuatu and the Sandline Crises defy that precept and stand out strongly that their story need to be told.

And now with the 50 year independence anniversary of Papua New Guinea coming up in September, 2025, it would be an honor to celebrate the life and sacrifice of our heroes who proudly wore the Kumul insignia and the men who led them on the front. These are “quintessential soldiers.” Meaning these men embody the core values and traits of a model military person, often characterized by discipline, courage, loyalty, and unwavering commitment to duty, as well as strong leadership and teamwork skills.

A quote fitting for these heroes is taken from the movie script, Troy, a cinematic re-edition of the legendary Homer’s the Iliad and the Odyssey. “Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves: will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we are gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?” THE COCONUT WAR, 1980 The 1980 Kumul Force landing in Vanuatu or New Hebrides as it was called back then, and the successful incursion ending a French backed rebellion threatening the independence of the newly born Melanesian state was in military terms a tactical genius.

The commando raid was commanded by our very own Lt Colonel Tony Huai and went according to script like a Hollywood or cinematic movie script with almost zero casualties completed in less than 24 hours. According to the PNG Defence Force Commander at the time Brigadier General Ted Diro, “the PNG incursion on the rebel stronghold in Tanafo, Vanuatu, and restoring democracy was not only a peace keeping mission but a bold statement to the world that Papua New Guinea has come of age and is ready to defend her sovereignty and of others in the region.” International media quickly carried the story of the daring amphibious assault across the globe putting the newly independent state of Papua New Guinea rightfully on the world stage.

Lieutenant Colonel Tony Huai At the relatively tender age of 30 Lieutenant Colonel Tony Huai, who was being groomed for the priesthood before he decided to make a career as a soldier finds himself in almost total control of a South Pacific island. Lt-Col Huai, from Rapa village, Central Province, one of the “whizz kids” of the PNG Defence Force, has been given the task of commanding the 120 tough combat soldiers, Kumul Force, who land on Espiritu Santo, with an aim of quashing the anti-government secessionist rebellion. At 30’ he seemed a little young, for the task – but not when you consider he comes from a country that was 5 year old and that has a 40-year-old Prime Minister and a 34-year-old Chief Justice.

As Lt-Col Huai, a shortish, open-faced man, moved around Luganville, Vanuatu, gently clutching a sinister-looking Israeli Gali’l automatic rifle, it is clear he is quite used to the strong. Australian – fostered disciplines of the Defence Force! Orders, were never barked or shouted by this man. The colonel sounds, as if he’s making a quiet suggestion, but all about him soldiers snap to and junior officers move quickly to – do his bidding.

After a rigid Roman Catholic primary school education Tony Huai was sent to Chanel College, Rabaul, as a lead up to an expected career in the church. But in 1966 the young Huai threw all that in and joined the army as a raw private. He says he found no moral dilemma in the decision to abandon the church as a career in favor of becoming a professional soldier who would be expected to serve in war.

“I thought at the time- I should look for a fresh direction,” he said. “I looked at it as just another job.” In 1969, Tony Huai graduated from Portsea Military College in Australia, as a second lieutenant in the Australian Army and his 11-year rise through the officer ranks began.

During that rise he became commanding officer of the Pacific Island Regiment’s 1st Battalion and commander of the PNG Officer Training College at Lae. Asked about his special expertise within the military, Lt-Col Huai describes himself as’ “more a training specialist than anything else – but I’m just an infantry soldier”. His commander, Brigadier General Ted Diro – another early whizz kid – says his choice of Col Huai as commander of the ground forces against Vanuatu’s secessionist rebels could hardly be bettered.

“The Vanuatu experience was an eye opener for us”, Huai said. At the time of deployment, Huai was Lieutenant Colonel and Director of Land Operations. After the successful operation, he was promoted to full Colonel a rare occasion in military history where an army officer is promoted while in conflict.

Huai’s clocked 28 years of distinguished service in military. He retired happily as a brigadier-general and once-commander of the PNG Defence Force. He turns 64 in August and a good father of nine.

Brigadier General Ted Diro Brigadier General Ted Diro, a quintessential soldier as if cut out from a comic script, had a formidable bearing = tall in stature and quick witted, strong jaw, high cheek bones and a cold slanted eyes that revealed nothing was the man who directed the Espiritu Santo theater in Vanuatu, 1980, during the Coconut War. Ted Diro was the first Papua New Guinean to command a Pacific Island Regiment Battalion. He seemed destined for a military career.

His father was a carrier on the Kokoda Trail during World War 2, and always encouraged Ted to join the Army. He attended the selective Sogeri High School near Port Moresby where he was a member of the school cadet unit and was greatly impressed by the periodic visits of the PIR Pipes and Drums. From Sogeri, Ted won a scholarship to the Slade School in Queensland where he completed his schooling and was selected for the Officer Cadet School at Portsea Victoria, graduating in 1963.

Following attachments to several Australian Army units and attendance at a number of courses during 1964, Ted was posted to 2 PIR in Wewak as a platoon commander. He performed well, was promoted Captain in 1968 and posted as the first Papua New Guinean Adjutant of the Battalion. He was promoted to Major in 1971 and commanded companies in both 1 and 2 PIR.

He was selected to attend the Australian Army Staff College in 1973 He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1974 and assumed command of 1 PIR. Later that year he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. In 1975 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and appointed as Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.

He resigned from the Defence Force in 1981 to follow a political career and eventually became Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea for a time. Now Diro retired his full military and civilian honours include Brigadier General ER (“Ted”) Diro, OBE, CBE, OST J..