cultural misunderstandings, 125–26, 134–35, 186–89, 196–97, 214, 270–71, 272, 273, 280–83, 285, 291
Dahl, Roald, 34
Daily Argus Leader, 220
Dani tribe, 117, 117, 119, 122, 134, 135, 171, 184, 197, 200, 269, 272, 273, 277, 284, 302, 346, 357
base camp near, 268–91
Dartmouth Free Press, 306
Dattilo, Phillip J., 56
D-Day, 28, 260, 261
“dead birds,” 123, 185, 277
Dead Birds (film), 347–48
“dead reckoning,” 203
Decker, Bert, 226
Decker, Kenneth, 40, 179, 215, 281, 299, 316, 318, 334
aboard Gremlin Special, 40
in aftermath of crash, 58, 60–65, 67–70, 69, 126
at “Camp Shangri-La,” 268, 290
death of, 310
helpfulness of, 61
humor of, 78, 94, 101, 131
injuries of, 52–54, 74, 76, 93–94, 95, 135, 138–39, 154, 156, 159–61, 167, 168–69, 176, 239, 310
and life after Shangri-La, 307, 308, 309
medics’ treatment of, 179–80, 190, 194, 209, 233
stoicism of, 76, 93, 156, 158, 160–61, 169, 190, 239
see also Gremlin Special survivors
Decker, Thelma, 224
defecation, 200
dengue fever, 163–64
dili (enemies), 117
Distinguished Flying Cross, 306
Distinguished Service Medal, 306
Dobransky, Peter, 225
Dongallo, Fernando, 165, 200, 210, 219, 308, 318
Douglas DC-3, 33
Dyak tribe, 83–84, 88
dysentery, 85, 163, 265
Eagle Scouts, 41, 52, 61
Earhart, Amelia, 85
education, 301
Eisenhower, Dwight D., 314
Elizalde, Joachin Miguel “Mike,” 110–12
Elsmore, Ray T., 20–21, 21, 24, 27, 28, 30, 46, 86, 124, 146, 318
cultural bias of, 28, 31–32
expertise of, 292–93, 295
and first view of Shangri-La, 19–25
as head of search and rescue mission, 96, 98, 104–5, 149, 165, 181, 217, 242, 255–56, 263–64, 279, 285–86, 287, 289, 292–93, 300
later life and death of, 305
press attention to, 28–29, 31–32, 220, 223, 263, 286
self-promotion of, 31–32, 80, 105, 220, 223, 263
as self-styled discoverer of Shangri-La, 26, 80, 91
End of Days, 124, 126
etai-eken (soul), 139–40
Fair, Alethia M., 36–37, 56
Fanless Faggot, 265, 267, 277–78, 287, 288, 290, 292, 294–97, 294, 297, 298, 305
Far East Air Service Command (Fee-Ask), 16, 32, 96, 107, 165, 192
Filipino-Americans:
discrimination against, 145–46, 350
immigration of, 145
as paratroopers under Walter, 112–13, 141–42, 144, 148, 162–65, 253
in World War II, 144–47, 164
see also 1st Reconnaissance Battalion; 5217th Reconnaissance Battalion
fingers, amputation of, 116, 121, 281–82
1st Reconnaissance Battalion (Special), 141, 143–44, 149, 162–65, 197–98, 241, 309, 315
medals awarded to, 307
scant press coverage of, 234–35
5217th Reconnaissance Battalion, 112, 141, 164, 308
“flak bait,” 261
Flannery, Tim, 86
Fleming, Walter “Wally,” 32, 101, 191, 312, 318
“flying boats,” 82–83
“flying coffins,” 261, 279
Flying Dutchman, crash of, 72–74, 104
Freyman, Louis E., 56
funeral services, for crash victims, 213, 304–5
Gallagher, Marie, 223
gangrene, 92–94, 135, 154, 158, 160, 168–69, 179–80, 190, 209, 237
Gardner, George, 217, 224, 225, 226, 227, 250, 271, 286–87, 318
Gardner, Robert, 302, 343, 347–48
Garrison, Jim, 305
Gatling, William J., Jr., 26
Gearhard, August, 213
Germany, Nazi, 7, 30, 249, 257–58
Gillis, Marian, 36, 56
gliders:
American military use of, 258–62
German use of, 257–58
history of, 257
in rescue mission, see glider snatch mission
in World War II, 257–62
see also Waco CG-4A
glider snatch mission, 262–67, 277–80, 285–97, 292
cooperation of natives in, 289–90, 290
impediments to, 294–97
second and third retrievals in, 298
see also Waco CG-4A
gold-star families, 1, 215
Good, Herbert F., 40–41, 54–55, 55, 58, 211–12, 304, 318
“Gooney Birds,” 34
Grand Valley, 84, 91, 300
see also Shangri-La
Gremlins, The (Dahl), 34
Gremlin Special, 34–43, 36, 39, 298, 302
aftermath of crash of, 58–70, 75
camouflage of, 34
casualties of, 55–57, 63, 67–68, 154, 297
crash of, 50–57, 65, 72, 124, 125, 154, 238–39, 295, 296
fiftieth anniversary of crash of, 309
name of, 34
passengers and crew seating on, 34–43, 68
possible causes for crash of, 48–49, 337
recovery and reburial of bodies from, 304–5
remains at crash site of, 303–4
salvage from, 61–62, 64, 71
sighting of Shangri-La from, 44–47
specs of, 33–34
survivors of, see Decker, Kenneth; Gremlin Special survivors; Hastings, Margaret; McCollom, John “Mac”
Walter’s burial mission at site of, 210–14, 212
Gremlin Special survivors, 68–70, 241, 299, 315
bond of respect and affection among, 93
at “Cape Shangri-La” base camp, 243–45, 252–54, 268–91
in first encounter with Native New Guineans, 128–40
on first glider, 286–87, 289–97
hopefulness of, 65–66, 78, 99, 101
humor of, 160, 172, 190, 298
hunger of, 168
jungle trek of, 74–79, 92–99
media frenzy over, 220–24
medical care for, 106
return trek of, 239–42
sighting by Baker of, 100–101
at Uwambo survivors’ camp, 124–40, 155–57, 167–72, 176–80, 190–203
Grimes, Myron, discovery of Shangri-La by, 19–24, 26, 30, 31, 45, 80, 318
Guba, 82–83, 83, 84, 86, 87, 181, 341
guerrilla fighters, 111–12, 142, 144, 147
Gutzeit, Jack, 153–55, 193, 224, 225, 318
Halifax Herald, 221
Hal-loak-nak, 116
Hanna, Eleanor, 35–36, 211, 304, 318, 339
in Gremlin Special crash, 52–54, 60–64, 68
souvenir bracelets of, 36, 60, 304, 334, 338
Hastings, Catherine, 2, 4, 226, 313
Hastings, Julia Hickey, 2, 66–67
Hastings, Margaret, 2, 136, 196, 263, 275, 299, 315, 316, 319, 337
aboard Gremlin Special, 35, 42, 45, 47, 49
adventurous nature of, 2, 7, 13, 68, 316
and affection for medics, 178, 193
in aftermath of crash, 58–70, 68
allowed into native village, 274–76
and attraction to Ruiz, 208–9, 314
and attraction to Walter, 208
basic training and promotion of, 9, 60
beauty of, 6, 205, 312
bond between “Chief Pete” and, 136, 138, 172, 236–37
childhood and early life of, 6–7, 66–67
children of, 316
cultural bias of, 134–35, 137
death of, 316
and death of mother, 66–67
in departure from base
camp, 236–37, 238–40
diary of, 59, 64–65, 66, 68, 70, 75, 77, 92, 95, 131, 132, 133, 134–35, 137, 138, 140, 154, 155, 156, 159, 160, 161, 167, 176, 178, 179, 180, 190–91, 193, 205, 213, 226, 236, 238, 241–42, 288, 292, 333
disappearance of, 1–4, 9
and disenchantment with fame, 314–15
enlistment of, 2–3
and evolving view of natives, 274–76
and fear, 295–96, 316
feisty nature of, 8, 159
in first encounter with Native New Guineans, 130–33
flirtatious nature of, 6, 208
and friendship with “the queen,” 274–76, 275, 280–82, 290
gangrene and amputation fears of, 92–94, 159, 161, 169, 176, 180
in Gremlin Special crash, 51–54
hair cut of, 76, 138, 205, 221, 280, 281, 313
homecoming parade for, 131, 312–13, 313
independence of, 6–7
injuries of, 59–60, 64–65, 74, 76, 92–94, 95, 135, 154, 158–59, 161, 167, 168–69, 176, 237, 239
and life after Shangri-La, 312–16
“Maggie” nickname of, 69, 93, 197
marriage and divorce of, 315–16
in media frenzy, 222, 223, 224, 227, 235, 312
medics’ treatment of, 179–80, 193–94, 193, 209, 233–34
movie offers for, 312, 315
as petite, 6, 330
and prayer, 51, 75, 161, 176, 193–94, 279–81, 291, 294
and preparations for sightseeing trip, 32–33
pride of, 194
as Queen of Shangri-La, 224, 241, 286, 309, 314, 316
resentment against, 314
resourcefulness of, 51, 60, 75
and respect and affection for Native New Guineans, 138, 140, 155, 274–76, 290
return to Owego of, 312–13
social life of, 12–13, 32, 101, 191
as spokesperson for Victory Bonds, 313
stoicism of, 78, 93
stubbornness of, 214
unselfishness of, 167
unwanted suitors of, 241–42
vanity of, 5–6
wartime job of, 6, 15
see also Gremlin Special survivors
Hastings, Patrick, 1–4, 226, 313, 315, 319
and news of Margaret’s disappearance, 3–4, 215–16
headhunters, 24, 25, 28, 30, 31, 94, 150, 166
health care, 301
Hearst, Alma Walker, 247–48
Hearst, William Randolph, Jr., 247
helicopters, 105, 181, 217, 255, 258
“Hey, Martha!” news stories, 221–22, 223, 247
Hidden Valley, 19–20, 24–25, 26, 91, 197
see also Shangri-La
Hilton, James, 29
Hitler, Adolf, 7, 257–58
Holding, Lawrence F., 56
Hole, The, 122–23
Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, 5, 10, 11, 301
Archbold’s camp in, 83
Walter’s team in, 141–44, 149
Hollandia military base, 5–18, 5, 20, 54, 63, 74, 94, 96–98
WAC living conditions at, 5, 12, 13–16
WAC swimming death at, 97–98
Hollywood:
Cann in, 246–48
offers to Margaret from, 312, 315
homecoming parade, 312–13, 313
Hoops, Eugene, M., 337
Howell, Winston, 278, 362
Hugiampot, 282
Human Bomb, The (film), 248
“human wind dummies,” 174
huts, 23, 47, 116–17, 156, 275, 302
Imparato, Edward T., 182, 319
inalugu (pile of feces), 200
iniatek (originals), 123
“Inseparables, The,” 41
Japan, Japanese, in World War II, 8, 11–12, 105, 111, 142, 146–47, 150–51, 163, 166, 232, 249, 268, 308
Javonillo, Juan “Johnny,” 165, 197–98, 200, 210, 245, 250, 253, 308, 319
Jayapura, 301
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 304
John and Robert McCollom Memorial Scholarship, 312
kain (big man), 117, 201, 284
kamikazes, 30, 97, 249
Kelabi, 283
Kennedy, John F., 305
Kenney, George C., 24
Kent, Helen, 36, 36, 46–47, 49, 56, 154, 210, 319
Kirchanski, James, 225
Koloima, 184, 282, 268–91
Korean War, 307, 310
Kremer expedition, 85
Kurelu (big man), 284
Kurelu clan, 184, 185
L-5 Sentinel “Flying Jeep,” 156
Lait, George, 27–30, 31, 319, 333
later life and death of, 306
press credentials of, 27–28
Shangri-La described by, 28, 122
Lait, Jack, 27
Landau, Mary M., 37, 56, 210, 213
Landikma, 128
Leaking Louise, 3–5, 264–65, 266, 267, 277–78, 288–89, 292–95, 292, 297, 297
hazards aboard, 278–79
lechon feast, 254
Legion of Merit, 306
Leyte Island, 97, 141, 147, 163, 220, 249
Lindbergh, Charles, 41
logging, 302
Logo, Gerlagam “Joe,” 269–71
Logo, Narekesok, 199, 273
Logo, Yali, 185, 271, 284, 290, 319
Logo-Mabel clans, 184–85
Los Angeles Times, 247, 312, 315
Los Banos Internment Camp, 106
Lost Horizon (film), 29–30, 122
Lost Horizon (Hilton), 29–30, 130
“Lost Outpost of Shangri-La, The,” 206, 206
Louise, see Leaking Louise
Lowell, James Russell, 44
Lutgring, James “Jimmy,” 39–40, 39, 98, 154, 305
Lutgring, Melvyn, 305
Lutz, Aleda, 96
Luzon Island, 9, 106, 141, 146, 162
Lynch, T. R., 165–66
Mabel, Inggimarlek, 125
Mabel, Lisaniak, 185, 189, 199, 270, 298, 365
MacArthur, Douglas, 11–12, 21, 36, 54, 106, 114, 142, 146, 215, 232, 306, 308
McCarthy, John, 314
McCollom, Betty, 311–12
McCollom, Cecelia Connolly “Adele,” 42, 56, 215, 226, 304–5
McCollom, Eva Ratliff, 41, 226
McCollom, John “Mac,” 134, 227, 233–34, 259, 272, 281–82, 298, 316, 319, 334, 337
aboard Gremlin Special, 46–50
bravery of, 132, 296
in burial mission, 210–11
at “Camp Shangri-La,” 268–70, 290
compassion of, 169, 190
competence of, 47–48, 69, 71, 100
death and obituary of, 311–12
determination of, 94, 311, 343
as emotional, 153–54, 310
fear of, 94
in Gremlin Special crash, 50–54, 56–57
in handshake with “Pete,” 132–33
as identical twin, 14, 41–43, 41, 42, 51, 52, 53, 57, 61, 68, 75, 94, 95–96, 153, 211, 213, 215, 296, 310, 311, 343
injuries of, 51, 52, 60
kindness of, 14
leadership qualities of, 14, 52–53, 58, 69, 74–76, 79, 93, 95, 130, 156
and life after Shangri-La, 304, 308, 309, 310–11, 311
in media, 224–25
resourcefulness of, 61, 74–75, 78
and respect and affection for fellow survivors, 93
survivor’s guilt of, 310
see also Gremlin Special survivors
McCollom, Mary Dennise “Dennie,” 42, 304–5, 310, 311
McCollom, Robert Emert, 41–43, 41, 42, 51, 52, 56–57, 68, 75, 94, 95, 211, 213, 215, 226, 259, 296, 304–5, 310, 311, 319, 343
McCollom, Rolla, 41, 226
machete, 237
McKenzie, William G., 265, 277, 278, 319
McKinley, William, 144–45
McMonagle, Marion W., 36, 56, 303
M
cMullen, Clements, 215
Macy, Anson, 234
maga (declaration of safe passage), 201, 236–37
Mageam, 199
malaria, 14, 163–64
Mayr, Ernst, 81–82
Mead, Margaret, 122
medics, see Bulatao, Benjamin “Doc” “Mumu”; Ramirez, Camilo “Rammy” “Mua”
Mellberg, Carl, 213
Mengel, Herbert O., 154, 319
mep mili (dark blood), 135
Merle, 34
Miller (Walter Jr.’s friend), 110
Miller, Charles R., 56
mining, 301
missionaries, 300–301, 304
mogat (spirits, ghosts), 118, 137
Mollberg, Melvin “Molly,” 37, 37, 56, 98, 154, 305, 319
Molly, 305
Morton, Ralph, 220–27, 233–34, 235, 242, 249, 278, 306, 320
Moseley, Lucille, 307–8
Mother’s Day (1945), 7, 17, 32
mourning:
finger amputation in, 116, 121, 282
mud ritual for, 188
mouth harp, 208
Mundima, 134, 177, 227
Mundi River, 125, 134, 177
Nagasaki, 308
Naimer, Belle, 36, 56, 210, 213
Nakmatugi, 123
National Geographic, 86, 89
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, 304
National World War II Glider Pilots Association, 316
Native New Guineans, 9–10, 12, 72–73, 79, 241, 253
agriculture of, 22, 86, 87, 102
and airplanes, 25, 27, 28, 86, 124–26, 288, 290, 291
anthropological inaccuracies about, 25, 28–29, 31–32, 102–3, 134–35, 228, 273, 281–82
appearance and dress of, 22, 87, 103, 115–16, 134–35, 170, 188–89, 229–30, 291, 302, 330, 346
art of, 115, 346
attempts at communication with, 169–70, 177, 185–86, 273, 275
beginning of the end for, 238
and belief in spirits and ghosts, 85, 116, 118–19, 123–24, 126–27, 137, 197, 201, 214, 230–31, 238
children, 116, 121, 136, 273
contemporary cultural decline of, 301–2
cooperation of, 289–90, 290
corpses of, 272
creation myths of, 122–24
cultural bias against, 28, 198, 200, 202, 222, 228, 230
and cultural changes after western contact, 291, 300–303
cultural misunderstandings about, 186–89, 270–71, 280–83
curiosity of, 200
defensiveness of, 201–2
economy of, 269–70
and fear of westerners, 85, 126, 201
and festival, 119
first metal tool of, 237
healing arts of, 139–40
and increasing comfort with westerners, 190–91
isolation of, 115
languages of, 9–10, 115–18, 273, 275
lifestyle and mores of, 115–22, 188–89, 270, 282
and Margaret’s baths, 195–97
medical treatments for, 273–74
misconceptions about westerners by, 85, 125–26, 134–35, 196–97, 214, 272, 273