Evening star., 1943-08-29
Army Flyer Wounded
In BaiIout Fights
Way Out Of Jungle
BY VERN HAUGLAND,
Associated Press War Correspondent


SOMEWHERE IN NEW GUINEA,
Aug. 26 Delayed .-Legrand Knee
skern of Kirkville, N. Y, missing
since July 81, won his battle with
the jungle single-handed in spite
of injuries and returned to base
this week to discover he had been
promoted to the rank Of captain.
1t. kneeskern bailed out of his
P-38 fighter over the mountains of
Central New Guinea after running
cut of fuel. He wrote this account
of his experience:
Evidently, pulled the ripcord of
my parachute too soon, for I receiv-
ed terrific wrench to my back,
violent enough to break the knife
In my jungle kit in half
Floating down l noticed blood
dripping from my face. My scalp
had been cut on my forehead and
above the left ear. I must have hit
the antenna in bailing out.
Landed in Tree.
Il landed in a tree. Cutting my
jungle kit loose from the chute, I
shinnied down to the ground and
busted sulfanilamide powder over
my wounds. Then wrapped them in
gauZe dressing. My back was pain
ing me, so I injected a third of the
morphine with which we are pro-
vided. I was so weak that after
putting on gloves and head net I
lay down and slept.
TT rained from 2 to am. that
night as it did every night there
after. l remained at the base of
the tree all the next day and night.
To ease the pain I injected the re-
mainder of the morphine. On the
third day, August 2, I was able
to move to nearby stream. AL
though I last had eaten on the
morning of July 81, it wasn't until
the fifth day, August 4, that 1 got
hungry. I ate what was left of my
d ration-two- thirds of which had
melted or washed away.
Saw Crocodiles.
"On two occasions I saw croco-
diles and several wild boar. I
couldn't remove the gun from my
shoulder holster because the leath-
er had shrunk. Even the matches
in my waterproof container were
wet.
When the parachute opened I
lost one of my Australian flying
boots. At first I put both socks on
my shoeless foot, but they soon wore
out. Then I cut off the top of my
one boot with a razor blade and
strapped it on the foot, but I lost
1t crossing stream. Next I cut off
part of my Mae West Qife preserv-
err and used it for a shoe. This
wore out, too, so I cut off sleeve
Of my jacket. 1t proved the most
satisfactory shoe of all.
Wins Promotion.
"I followed the river downstream
for five days, often having to climb
up and down mountains. I nearly
drowned crossing the swift cur
rent on that fifth day of my jour-
ney.
"On the sixth day found fresh
grave with large bunch of ba-
nanas beside it. I didn't touch
them because I thought the natives
were nearby But I didn't find the
natives for another five days.
August 10 I found eight natives
on fishing trip. None spoke Eng
lish and my Papuan woodsheet (pid-
gin dictionary was so wet it was
unintelligible, so I just asked for
kai-kai (foodD.
They brought me hot water and
lemons, then took me to a village
In their canoe. Later ! was taken
to two Australians, who fed me,
dressed my wounds, gave me hot
shower and had my clothes washed.
THE rest of my journey was made
In comfort, with native guides es-
corting me from one plantation to
another until I reached the Allied
base"
1t was on his arrival at base that
1t. Kneeskern found a message from
the War Department notifying him
of promotion.